Blackwell calls for Petro to join Montgomery

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 Contact: Gene Pierce

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Statement Regarding State Auditor Montgomery's Withdrawal

(Columbus, January 25, 2006) Gene Pierce, spokesman for Ken Blackwell’s gubernatorial campaign, made this statement in response to Ohio Auditor Betty Montgomery’s announcement that she was dropping out of the gubernatorial primary contest.

“Phil Heimlich and Betty Montgomery have dropped out of the gubernatorial race to help the Republican Party. Jim Petro should follow suit and drop out to help the Party, too. Betty Montgomery is a great public servant, and we look forward to having her somewhere on the November ticket.”

Blackwell leads in primary and general election match-ups in all recent polls (including his opponents’), raised more money than all other candidates in the last filing period and has a grassroots network of more than 10,000 supporters across the state.

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