Posted on 01/23/2006 4:36:06 PM PST by GOP_Lady
Betty Montgomery drops out of Ohio race for governor
6:16 p.m.
Sandy Theis Plain Dealer Bureau Chief
Columbus -A shortage of money and moderate voters persuaded Auditor Betty Montgomery to drop out of the Republican primary for governor and try to regain her old job of Ohio Attorney General, sources said.
Her decision leaves Republicans with two major candidates whom Montgomery once accused of "governing by bumper sticker:" Secretary of State Ken Blackwell and Attorney General Jim Petro.
Campaign spokesman Mark Weaver would not confirm or deny her entry into the race for attorney general, saying only that she plans a major announcement Tuesday at the Wood County Courthouse where she once served as county prosecutor. Montgomery could not be reached for comment.
Although early polls showed Montgomery in the lead, Blackwell moved into the top spot by courting primary voters with last year's successful ballot issue to ban gay marriage and this year's plan to rein in state spending.
Petro chimed in with a rival spending-limit proposal, then put $1.5 million worth of TV commercials on the air late last year that highlighted his religious views and his move toward a more conservative platform. The ads worked. Polls showed Petro within striking distance of Blackwell and Montgomery trailing them both.
Throughout the contest, Montgomery remained the more moderate of the trio and the only contender who supports abortion rights. Her fund-raising clearly suffered, and the most recent campaign reports showed she was the only major candidate for governor who did not raise at least $1 million during the reporting period.
While her decision to bow out of the governor's race leaves the GOP with a smaller gubernatorial primary - it also could cause a larger one for attorney general.
Other Republicans who have announced for AG are state Sen. Tim Grendell of Geauga County and Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien. In the past, Grendell has said he would stay in the race - even if Montgomery jumped in.
Montgomery served as Ohio attorney general from 1995 to 2003 and clearly relished the job. Term limits forced to her to leave the post and run for state auditor.
Blackwell adviser Gene Pierce welcomed the news and used it to point out that Petro's'running mate, Hamilton County Commissioner Phil Heimlich, dropped off the Petro ticket just last week.
"Phil Heimlich made a decision for the good of the party," Pierce said. "This week, Betty Montgomery is making a decision for the good of the party. Mr. Petro should follow suit and also help the party."
He called Montgomery "a great public servant" and said Blackwell looks forward to running on the Republican ticket with her.
Democrats running for governor are U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon, state Sen. Eric Fingerhut of Shaker Heights and former state Rep. Bryan Flannery of Strongsville.
"Betty Montgomery drops out of Ohio race for governor"
Good. Ken Blackwell is the person for the job.
I'm not planning on voting for her for AG either.
If there are so few moderate voters, why did John 'effin' Kerry think he could win it?? LOL.
Gun owners cheer.
Are any of the candidates mentioned in the article for AG any good?
Bye bye, Betty!
Didn't see any.
I really don't care. Betty has been part of the problem.
I hope this doesn't help Petro too much. Blackwell needs to win the primary before he can win the general.
I don't know O'Brien.
I'm strongly leaning towards Grendell. His work against eminent domain impressed me and he is a conservative, as far as I know.
It will make it closer, but I think Blackwell's still got the advantage. Even if Betty's voters split 65/35 for Petro, the last poll would still give Blackwell a thin advantage.
Grendell looks good to me, too.
I like your tagline.
It reminds me of my old one "when I signed up for the party of Lincoln, no one told me they meant Lincoln Chafee."
I like that!
Betty Montgomery is guilty of flagrant office-shopping. I hope she loses that primray.
Ohio ping!
She was the typical big government, tax whoring statist as the Attorney General. I loathe this professional politician.
Today she came out in support for the state wide ban on public smoking in Ohio. Makes me want to go blow some smoke in this pig's face.
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