Gov: Blackwell (R) Hugs "Friend and Outstanding American" Karl Rove, Together in Toledo

Sometimes a picture says it all.

"Bush's Brain," the Republican dirty tricks ubermeister Karl Rove, visited Toledo last night to bash Democrats as "obstacles to national security" and praise his boss, the Misleader in Chief. Rove warmly embraced gubernatorial candidate and personal pet project Ken Blackwell (R-Cinncinnati), who called Rove "my friend, an outstanding American."

At the same time, however, Blackwell denied that the 2006 election in Ohio is a referendum on Rove, the failed Bush presidency, or corrupt governor Bob Taft. No, it's strictly about Blackwell's "public policy positions," like proposing to sell the turnpike to a campaign contributor.

Protestors outside denounced the Iraq war and Bush, and Democrats "used it to highlight the ongoing scandal" of convicted Republican power broker Tom Noe. At a press conference, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo) called on Rove "to explain his relationship with Noe during the 2004 campaign."