BY Enquirer Columbus Bureau
COLUMBUS -- Ohio Republican Party Chairman Robert Bennett filed a complaint Friday with the Ohio Elections Commission against Lee Fisher, the Democratic candidate for governor.
The allegations in it are nearly identical to those in a complaint that Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Leland filed last week against Bob Taft, the Republican candidate for governor.
The Elections Commission ruled Thursday that there is probable cause to believe Mr. Taft violated election laws with a TV commercial that ends with the words: "Bob Taft Governor."
Democrats contend the spot conveys the false impression that Mr. Taft -- who is now the secretary of state -- is the sitting governor. While Republicans insist the Taft spot is not misleading, they argue that if the Taft ad violates the law, so does one Mr. Fisher aired during the primary. It ends with a bumper sticker that says: "Lee Fisher Governor."
"Any reasonable person should be offended that Lee Fisher thinks he should force Bob Taft to live by one set of rules and he gets to live by another," Mr. Bennett said.
Alan Melamed, Mr. Fisher's campaign chairman, said the controversy is not about TV ads, it's about leadership.
He noted that Mr. Taft's top aides attempted to distance the candidate from decisions about the ad; but he said that if the Fisher spot is improper, Mr. Fisher takes responsibility for it.
Mr. Bennett said he will ask the elections commission to consolidate the two cases.
Mr. Taft, a Cincinnati Republican, is completing his second term as secretary of state, Ohio's chief election officer.
Mr. Fisher, a Cleveland native, is a former Ohio attorney general.
