It's been confirmed by multiple sources that the RNC and RSSC have given up on DeWine in Ohio. The Q poll out this morning shows Brown up 12% over DeWine. The Republican candidate for Governor is off the airwaves and the RGA will not provide any further funds to Blackwell. The RSCC has pulled ads from congressional Democrats they earlier challenged, in the 6th and the 13th. Democrats could well take 3-5 congressional seats in Ohio away from Republicans. The State Senate is likely in play, and big gains are possible in the State House.

With their backs against the wall, what's next? I heard from an Ohio source that Rove was spotted on a flight from Cincy to DC on Sunday night. And that Rove, not scheduled for any public events in Ohio, most likely went into Ohio to relay the bad news to the Republicans there and he then leaked the story to Nagourney to signal Republican donors to focus on other races (like Virginia). So the source thought, and it sounds plausible given what's unfolded.

(Update [2006-10-17 21:11:22 by Jerome Armstrong]: I got conflicting sources about how Nagourney got the info, and since it's turned out so sour for Republicans that connection is not tenable. Regardless, he got the story right and it's bad news for Ohio Republicans.)

Because now it's emerging that the Ohio Republican Party is also shifting it's resources with it's own "firewall strategy" by not coming forward to fill the advertising void for Blackwell and Dewine, but instead channel their resources into Ohio's statewide contests for secretary of state and state auditor. And they now have the ads up to try and Willie Hortonize (WMV) the Democratic candidate for SoS, Jennifer Brunner. This is about '08 and CYA. Republicans are trying to maintain control of the SoS position in Ohio for the 2008 elections. And given the years of financial corruption, Ohio Republicans would like to maintain control of state auditor to keep a lid on a boatload of dirty laundry.

The Secretary of State Project has the latest on the SoS races across the nation.

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