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Blackwell Praises Urbana US Lawmaker Jim Jordan

Flickr Creative Commons User Gage Skidmore
Flickr Creative Commons User Gage Skidmore

A former secretary of state who stirred up controversy in the Republican Party when he ran in 2006 seems to be interested in shaking up the GOP again. Ken Blackwell spoke to about 30 people at the Columbus Metropolitan Club today, talking about the debt ceiling crisis. Blackwell wrote on Twitter last week that Tea Party Congressman Jim Jordan of Urbana should run for the US Senate next year if his district is erased in redistricting. But there are already two candidates who are interested – former State Senator Kevin Coughlin of Cuyahoga Falls, who’s filed his paperwork, and treasurer Josh Mandel, who would likely be the party’s pick. Blackwell said today he thinks Jordan would be the real conservative in the race.

"I think Kevin and Josh will provide the Republican voters with a good opportunity to choose between them. I'm sure both of those guys hopes that Jim's district is not messed with, or finds some reason to get in the race," says Blackwell.

Blackwell himself bowed out of the US Senate race a few months ago, and said he doesn’t regret it. And while he said it would take a lot to – using his words – lure him back into the morass – Blackwell also said he would “never say never” about taking a job with a Republican president if one is elected next year. He added that he has a favorite in the race, but said he wasn’t going to reveal who it is.