BY SANDY THEIS
Enquirer Columbus Bureau
COLUMBUS -- Bob Taft avoids any mention of his famous family -- but takes on those who claim he is dull -- in a five-minute campaign video designed to energize his supporters and raise money for his gubernatorial campaign.
Top aides to the presumptive Republican nominee debuted the video Monday and mailed copies to about 500 opinion makers around Ohio.
In the video, Mr. Taft takes a series of non-controversial positions: Ohio needs better schools, safer streets, higher-paying jobs and a cleaner environment.
Yet the video is not designed to detail his position papers, explained campaign manager Brian Hicks. Rather, it is intended to highlight the campaign's main issues and show the candidate in both professional and personal settings.
Mr. Hicks predicted that segments of the eye-pleasing production will make their way into campaign commercials, the method by which most Ohioans receive the bulk of their information about political campaigns.
While Mr. Taft's daughter, Anna, avoids the political limelight, the video features still photos of her and her father picking pumpkins, paddling a boat and bicycling. And to those who find Mr. Taft dull or wooden, Hope Taft asks, "Where have you been for the past 30 years?" Mrs. Taft tells of a husband who once dressed like George Washington to teach civics to his daughter's fourth-grade class and says, "My husband believes politics is about serving others, not serving yourself."
Much of the footage was taken during Mr. Taft's two-day announcement tour last November, an event marred by his failure to take positions on some of the more controversial issues facing the state -- such school funding and Ohio's tailpipe testing program, known as E-check. When pressed for details on school funding, he said, "I don't know. . . . I'm not the governor today. I'm not the legislature." The announcement included a stop in Dayton where Mr. Taft joined high school students who were rehabilitating a house. As he left the site, he accidently stepped in wet cement, prompting quips that Dayton marked the only stop where he took a concrete stand. The video showcases the other side of the trip: Mr. Taft speaking to flag-waving supporters, repairing the Dayton home and standing before the governor's office, with the open doors seeming to welcome him.
Mr. Taft, 55, is completing his second term as Ohio's Secretary of State.
The Taft name has been long-revered in Ohio politics. Mr. Taft's father and paternal grandfather were U.S. senators. His great-grandfather, William Howard Taft, was president and chief justice of the United States.
There is no mention of the famous relatives in the video, but the case it comes in is adorned with a "Win with Taft" button -- a memento from his father's U.S. Senate campaign.
Mr. Taft will face Cleveland lawyer Lee Fisher, 46, in November. Mr. Fisher was expected to have a primary, but Toledo businessman Bruce Douglas abruptly dropped out of the race last week.
The absence of a Democratic primary is expected to focus added attention on the general election.
"Obviously, things changed very dramatically last Thursday," Mr. Hicks said.
