IMO, they should all be investigated, SMehlman too.
GOP Chair accuses Blackwell of "smear tactics"
BY HOWARD WILKINSON | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell’s new cable TV and radio ads attacking opponent Jim Petro are so bare-knuckled that the chairman of the Blackwell’s own party has called them “smear tactics.’’
“Ken Blackwell should have a better strategy for winning this primary than simply burning down the house,’’ Ohio GOP chairman Bob Bennett said in a written statement.
But Blackwell said Tuesday he has no intention of changing the tone of the ads or his campaign; and charged the chairman was playing favorites.
“I’m the chairman’s prodigal political son,’’ Blackwell said. “(Ohio Gov.) Bob Taft and Jim Petro are his favorites.’’
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http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060221/NEWS01/302210016/1077/rss02GOP Senator eyes public financing bill
By Elana Schor
Sen. George Voinovich, Ethics Committee chairman and a sometime gadfly to Republican leadership, is warming to Democratic-backed proposals for public financing of federal elections.
Voinovich (R-Ohio) told The Hill that he has met with Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) to discuss collaboration on the public-financing pitch Durbin is crafting with Sen. Chris Dodd (Conn.), the Rules Committee’s ranking Democrat. Snagging the endorsement of Voinovich, who last year bucked his party by opposing the confirmation of U.N. Ambassador John Bolton and has so far taken a supporting role in the GOP’s push for lobbying reform, could give the public-financing concept considerable momentum.
“Maybe it is the answer,” Voinovich said. “Too much of our time is spent raising money, time spent campaigning, time buying TV ads. When everyone’s out there trying to raise money, dialing for dollars ... until we deal with this issue you’re going to continue to have problems.”
Voinovich’s enthusiasm for a public financing system, versions of which have been instituted at state and local levels in seven states, comes as Republicans continue to hammer out a lobbying-reform package that can be swiftly marked up after this week’s recess.
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http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/022206/gop.html