By Gerard Valentino

(This commentary has also been published at CNSNews.com)

The Ohio Republican Party is setting the stage for the end of its control over state government for the first time in over 15 years. Unfortunately, at the same time, the Ohio GOP may also be setting up the national party for failure in the 2008 presidential election.

And it all boils down to a pro-gun bill that Republicans should expect their leadership to support.

Look no further than the Ohio governor's race, where Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, a Republican, is running against U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, a Democrat.

Polls show that Strickland is the front runner, having established himself as the presumptive Democratic candidate early in the election season. He then had the luxury of sitting back and watching as the Republicans slugged it out for their nomination.

Although Blackwell was not seriously threatened by his main challenger, Attorney General Jim Petro, the effort required to assure victory may have damaged his chances in the November general election.

Blackwell is a moving and polished public speaker who spent months in the limelight after he oversaw the close 2004 Ohio Presidential election. His low-tax, small government agenda appeals to many conservatives -- and he also runs strong among African-American voters, a voting block that Republicans have failed to court successfully in the past.

Ted Strickland's moderate record stands in stark contrast to the more liberal agenda of other Democrats such as Senator Hillary Clinton, John Edwards or Senator John Kerry. Strickland also would bring the Democrat ticket a strong pro-gun advocate which they've lacked in recent memory.

Strickland is openly courting gun owners in Ohio, and he recently castigated the Republican leadership for scuttling HB347, a bill designed to fix Ohio's current concealed carry law.

Pro-gun voters desperately want the bill to pass. Strickland's outspoken support of the bill may help him garner a large percentage of pro-gun voters, whereas Blackwell's decision to sit back and let the Ohio Republican leadership delay HB347 has hurt his position with gun-owners.

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