Ken Blackwell sounds like the future

A very extensive and interesting profile of Ken Blackwell in Ohio. He sounds like a great combination of qualities, resonating with both the economic part of the base (my people) and the religious part of the base (not necessarily my people).

2006 will certainly be an interesting year electorally for the Republicans. Will they be punished by swing voters and the taint of scandal? Do they fix this by moving right and solidifying the base (with people like Blackwell, Shadegg and Romney), or by moving left with a spririt of appeasement (à la Schwarzenegger and Chaffee)?

I would like to believe that the lessons of the current day are that character and ideas matter much more than party affiliation. Blackwell will run on the former and despite the latter, and he may well have a chance.

The article also talks about a new “graduating class” of black leaders who espouse conservative fiscal and social values and are gaining prominence. Bush picked up many votes from the African-American community in 2004, as folks took a good look at their values and the parties that represent them. Can the Democrats depend on the African-American vote in the future?