Strickland wins Ohio governorship

By WND Staff
Published November 7, 2006 at 10:20pm

Rep. Ted Strickland, D-Ohio

Democrat Ted Strickland won the Ohio governor's race over Republican Ken Blackwell, ending 16 years of Republican control of the office leading into the 2008 presidential election.

Blackwell, an African American, has been regarded by many Republicans as a rising star after gaining national attention for his handling of the 2004 election as Ohio's secretary of state.

He conceded to Strickland at about 8:30 p.m. Blackwell's campaign said the Republican candidate telephoned Strickland to offer his congratulations.

The new governor of Ohio likely will play a significant role in the 2008 presidential election as a campaigner for his party's candidate in a crucial swing state.

Ohio's last Democratic governor was Richard Celeste, elected in 1986.

An exit poll by the AP found Ohio voters dissatisfied with the state's economy and disgusted by political scandals.

Strickland won every swing group by a large margin, including independents, moderates, middle-income groups and women, the exit poll showed.

Blackwell, author of "Rebuilding America," published by WND Books, had hoped the Christian conservatives who backed Bush in 2004 would help propel him to victory, but he did not do as well as he expected in rural areas that usually vote Republican.

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