Republican gubernatorial candidate Kenneth Blackwell has won the GOP nomination for governor. He will face Democratic Congressman Ted Strickland who had no problem defeating his rival Bryan Flannery.
Blackwell gained fame in 2004 as the chief elections official who backed President George Bush in bellwether Ohio. He campaigned against Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro as the best man to deliver his party from political scandal.
The battle between Blackwell and Petro was bitter and expensive with both men investing large amounts of money in a television ad campaign during the final days before the primary election.