In 1997 incumbent Republican State Auditor Jim Petro, who was facing re-election in 1998, raised a whopping $250,000.  $118,000 of that was a direct contribution from the Ohio Republican Party.  So in the year before his re-election, at a time when Republicans held every statewide office in Ohio, Jim Petro could only raise $132,000 on his own for this vital apportionment board seat.  Sound familiar?

Jim Petro went on to win re-election in 1998 with the help of over $750,000 in contributions from the the state and national Republican parties, his largest donors.  Jim Petro didn't get pushed out by the party for not raising enough money, Petro's campaign was bankrolled by the Republican party.  They had to, there is simply no natural constituency to raise money from while running the State Auditor's office.

So lets turn now to Mary Taylor.  The Ohio Republican Party did chip in $575,000 in her successful 2006 race, but haven't donated a dime since, at least through her July 2009 report.  (They also dropped in $1.2 million for Ken Blackwell which puts this amount in perspective.)  This seems mighty strange when you consider Mary is the only elected statewide nonjudicial Republican in Ohio at this point.  The party has endorsed her but apparently she has to raise the funds needed on her own.  Sink or swim Mary, sink or swim.

And here's the other thing.  Former GOP boss Bob Bennett liked Jim Petro.  They were old friends from Cleveland and Jim did what he was told by Bennett.  Bennett never liked Mary Taylor.  She was a conservative House member who refused to vote in support of Bob Taft's tax hikes.  Even worse, she was a close supporter and protege of Bennett nemesis Alex Arshinkoff, Chairman of the Summit County Republican Party.

Now, I have it confirmed by GOP sources and by reporter Joe Hallett that, unless something changes within the week,  Mary will run for Lt. Governor with John Kasich.  Bravo, Ohio Republicans, bravo.  Our only statewide elected official, who happens to be a conservative female, is not good enough to run for re-election, for an apportionment board seat. 

The party didn't lift a single finger to either help her raise money or raise money on her behalf in the last four years.  Now they'll push her aside because she can't raise enough money on her own.  This is one of those days when I really, really hate Ohio politics.