I wonder if Blackwell could be denied the nomination the way the GA Republicans did in 2004 to Herman Cain? You are right that the GA party apparatus backed Isakson, not Cain...that was to be expected. However, I think Herman's campaign made some key mistakes in his ads, etc and that did not help attract enough people that did not know him but recognized Isakson (casual voter).
I was a Cain supporter...FYI.
Blackwell is more of an insider than Cain so his odds are much higher.
"I wonder if Blackwell could be denied the nomination the way the GA Republicans did in 2004 to Herman Cain?"
If Senator DeWine runs for governor, as has been rumored, then the party establishment will back him even more strongly than the GA GOP backed Isakson in 2004. But Mr, Blackwell starts off in a much better position than Mr. Cain did in GA, since Blackwell has already been elected statewide on a couple of occasions and has been a vocal opponent of RINO Governor Taft's tax policies.
I think Blackwell will be the clear frontrunner unless DeWine jumps in, but if DeWine jumps it will be much more difficult for him, and perhaps a deal will be struck to avoid a bloody primary (such as Blackwell being appointed to DeWine's Senate seat). But I hope that DeWine stays in the Senate and allows Blackwell to win the governorship.