Ohio not ready for a black governor

There's no doubt that Democrat Ted Strickland's huge lead in the polls going into Tuesday's election for governor is the result of his connecting with the electorate, being right on the issues and his benefiting from an anti-Republican political climate.
But given the significant margins that Strickland has enjoyed for months, the issue of Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell's being black must be explored. Why? Because there can be no other explanation for Blackwell, currently Ohio's secretary of state, failing to get traction even with mainstream Republican voters.
After his surprising victory in the May primary over Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro, political observers thought that the general election race would go down to the wire -- because the Democratic nominee, Strickland, had never run statewide. Indeed, Strickland had represented a rural congressional district until the lines were redrawn, giving him part of Mahoning County and all of Columbiana County. That provided him with an important launching pad for his statewide bid.
But it still does not explain the ease with which he was able to take the lead in the general election contest and hold onto it for so long.
That's why the issue of Blackwell's race must be considered in any analysis of this year's election for governor.
It isn't a stretch to believe that Ohio is not ready for a black to occupy the mansion. After all, just two years ago, voters in this state decided that gays were such a threat to society that the institution of marriage had to be protected from them. Ohio and 10 other states adopted constitutional amendments defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
GOP strategy
Of course, the amendments on the 2004 ballots were part of the national Republican Party's strategy to get out the vote in key states to ensure President Bush's re-election. The warnings that gay married couples would be demanding the same legal advantages enjoyed by heterosexual couples did the trick: Conservative voters went to the polls in droves. The constitutional amendments were adopted and Bush won re-election.
In Ohio, Blackwell, a former state treasurer and former mayor of Cincinnati, was one of the leading backers of the so-called marriage amendment.
That explains his win in this year's Republican primary for governor. The ultra conservative wing of the party was showing its appreciation.
About a month before the May primary, the following question was posed in this space about the GOP nominating contest: "Will race be a factor?"
The opening paragraphs were as follows:
"A veteran politico in Columbus offered an interesting observation about J. Kenneth Blackwell's candidacy for the Republican nomination for Ohio governor. The television commercials Blackwell is airing may turn out to be a mistake because it serves to remind voters that he's black.
"No, the politico isn't a racist, but he is realist. The question underlying his observation is this: Will those Republicans who went to the polls in 2004 and put President Bush over the top in Ohio be inclined to vote for a black?"
Several paragraphs later, " ... While political analysts in the state have been less than willing to discuss whether Ohio is ready for a black governor, the issue is on the minds of many of them, as evidenced by the comments of the veteran politico."
Inclusion?
In the aftermath of Blackwell's victory. Republican leaders were quick to boast about their "big tent" party being committed to political inclusion.
It now turns out that was wishful thinking.
After the primary, this was written:
"Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell's win over Attorney General Jim Petro in the race for the GOP nomination for governor will be shown to have resulted from his getting strong support from the ultra conservative wing of the party.
"And that raises the following question: Will moderate Republicans hold their noses and vote for the individual who led the charge in 2004 for the so-called marriage amendment, or will they stay home in November?"
Barring a major political collapse Tuesday on the part of Strickland, the answer to the question will be clear.
ON THE ROAD
This writer will join radio talk show host Louie Free on Monday as he broadcasts from The Flaming Ice Cube Shoppe & amp; Cafe in Boardman. The broadcast is from 7 to 10 a.m. on WASN 1500 and from 7 a.m. to noon on Vindy.com, The Vindicator's Web site. Click on "Louie Free."