Senate Race News Blackout

Check out Bizzy's important post about how the media is ignoring the primary challenge of Mike DeWine.

There are two very important entires in the Cleveland Plain Dealer blog that deal with the race. The first deals with the media blackout and features a quote from Bill Pierce:

"They're ignoring a challenge to Mike DeWine and they are ignoring the challenger who is making inroads," Pierce said, adding that only reporters from The Plain Dealer and the Toledo Blade, plus several political bloggers, have taken time to cover his race. He said he is canceling his subscription to the Enquirer.

Pierce said the lack of attention in southern Ohio means the area of the state holding the most Republicans ''has been left in the dark, and that the news blackout continues the assault on fair and balanced reporting."

The second deals with the cancelation of the endorsement process in Butler County:

For Blackwell and Petro, it's a wash. But neutrality is clearly a setback for darkhorse Senate hopeful Bill Pierce, a conservative Republican who thought he might have a chance of nailing down support from the party leadership in Butler County.

How so? Pierce had already beaten DeWine in nearby Clermont County, which delivered almost as many votes for Bush as Butler in November 2004. He felt it was a sign that conservative Cincinnati-area Republicans are tilting against the senator.

If so, neutrality is probably good news for DeWine, who won't have to risk another embarrassing loss in Southwest Ohio, the state's GOP heartland.

Maybe this is why I haven't heard back from the Ohio GOP on a meeting I was supposed to have with them some time next week...

DISCLOSURE: I am the blog administrator for Pierce for Sneate.