How do you spell Muskingum, as in the county?
Lee Fisher, the Democratic candidate for governor, is touring the state in an RV adorned with the names of all 88 Ohio counties. Spell-checkers at the campaign of Bob Taft, the Republican nominee, noticed Muskingum County is incorrectly spelled "Muskingham." Ottawa County was botched, too.
Since Mr. Fisher has been making a big deal over Mr. Taft's alleged failure to take responsibility for his campaign's mistakes, Taft spokesman Brett Buerck said he's confident that Mr. Fisher personally authorized the misspellings.
"Given his concern for children, I'd have guessed he was hooked on phonics years ago," Mr. Buerck said.
So, did he say it?
State Treasurer Ken Blackwell made no secret that he preferred to run for governor this year instead of secretary of state, but he continues to be haunted by a quote he says he never uttered.
In a Jan. 25 column in the Dayton Daily News, Mr. Blackwell was quoted as saying, "The only thing worse than running for secretary of state would be being secretary of state."
After the quote popped up again in the July issue of Columbus Monthly magazine, the Blackwell campaign decided to fight back. "He gladly faces the consequences of his actions, positions on issues and his public statements," Norm Cummings, Mr. Blackwell's campaign manager, wrote to Max Brown, the magazine's publisher. "However, he should not have to answer for what someone thinks, or wishes."
Levy strategy session
Recovery Services of Warren and Clinton Counties meets tonight to hash out campaign strategies for this fall's levy to support children's mental health services.
The levy would pay for new and expanded services. It would cost the average property owner in Warren County $28 a year, while property owners in Clinton County would pay $26 a year.
The meeting runs 5-7 p.m. in the second-floor conference room at Clinton Memorial Hospital's Professional Building in Wilmington.
Information: 933-1362.
The Campaign Notebook is compiled by Enquirer staff and runs Tuesday-Saturday.
