When Democratic candidate for governor Tim Hagan got hungry last week as he was traveling around the state in his motor home, he sent his youngest brother, Jeff, out to get some food. Mr. Hagan wanted to eat before his appearance on a Columbus TV station.

When Jeff came back, he handed over the Styrofoam carton to his brother, who eagerly grabbed it. "I thought it was a hamburger," Mr. Hagan said. "But it was Indian food. I couldn't believe it. Who eats hot Indian food right before you go on TV?" (No sweating in front of the camera, please).

All that hot food didn't go over too well with Mr. Hagan, who finally made another brother - he has seven - stop the bus at Jolly Pirate. As Mr. Hagan happily downed a couple of chocolate-covered doughnuts, he said he learned something very valuable about brother Jeff.

"I'll never put him in charge of food again," he said.

Name recognition counts, but not with newspaper publisher

Roy Brown, CEO of Brown Publishing Co., which operates 50 daily and non-daily newspapers in Ohio, apparently needs to do a little research on statewide candidates.

Mr. Brown, a Republican, stood up last week at a Columbus conference on editorial excellence and introduced Mr. Hagan and Democratic candidate for state Treasurer Mary Boyle. There was just one problem: He had no idea what Ms. Boyle's first name was, and he wasn't real tuned in to her last name either: He introduced her as Ms. O'Boyle.

"I know your name but I always screw up candidates," he said apologetically. Then he turned to Mr. Hagan, who was standing at the front of the room, and asked, "What office is she running for?"

Mr. Hagan shook his head. "Treasurer," he said.

Later, Mr. Brown walked over and shook Ms. Boyle's hand. "I'm sorry I butchered your name," he said sheepishly.

Ms. Boyle stepped up to the podium. "Thank you Mr. O'Brown," she said. "For having me here today."

Mobile commentator may have been a Hoosier heckler

Campaigning is not all glory. Mr. Hagan was standing outside a shift change at Delphi Safety and Interior Corp., in Columbus when a truck drove by blowing its horn. The passenger stuck his head out the window and yelled, "You suck. We're voting for Taft."

Mark Sweazy, president of United Auto Workers Local 969, looked at Mr. Hagan and his campaigners, standing there in the bitter cold, and was quick to react.

"They had Indiana license tags," he yelled.

Taft campaign stop proves to be a bit of an eye-opener

When Gov. Bob Taft campaigned last week at Damon's Restaurant in Dayton, some football fans bought a shot of liquor and sent it to the governor.

"It tasted chocolately," the governor said after taking a sip.

After getting a disapproving look from his wife, Hope, who is known for her campaign against drug and alcohol abuse, he held up his fingers about an inch apart and assured her, "I only drank this much."

Airwaves get clogged with partisan advertisements

Eric Rademacher, director of the University of Cincinnati's Institute for Policy Research is surprised by the sheer volume of televised campaign slogans, political attacks and candidates clogging the airwaves.

"This is going to be a real tough weekend for voters," he said. "Voters are really going to be permeated with political messages."

He noted that many campaigns were late in getting on the air this year, and that may have helped ratchet up the last-minute media onslaught.

With so many competing ads he's also not sure whether voters will pay attention.

"There seems to be unparalleled (commercial) gridlock," he said.

Debra Jasper is chief of the Enquirer Columbus Bureau. Spencer Hunt is a reporter in the Columbus bureau. They can be reached at 614-224-4640 or email at djasper@enquirer.com or shunt@enquirer.com.