COLUMBUS – Republican governor's candidate Ken Blackwell has made up significant ground in fund-raising, while Democratic latecomer Ted Strickland is surging on the other side of the political fence.

   Campaign finance reports for the first six months of 2005 were due July 29, and all five gubernatorial candidates made the deadline. Each report paints a good picture of where candidates are strong, and who's funding each campaign's race to replace Governor Bob Taft in 2007.

   Blackwell, who was said to be trailing behind fellow GOP'ers Betty Montgomery and Jim Petro, raised $1,241,272.34 in the first half of 2005, topping Montgomery's $772,246.22, but trailing behind Petro's $1,364,641.72.

   For the Democrats, Strickland raised $1,081,151.06 compared to Michael Coleman's $1,016,627.72, despite not entering the governor's race until May.

   While it's easy to analyze the numbers in dozens of combinations, some details don't require much searching. Blackwell clearly received more donations than anyone, and more from outside Ohio than anyone.

   Blackwell reported 7,707 donations, with 6,000 donations of $75 or less (1,350 were $10 or less). Strickland was next highest, with 2,159 donations – 987 of his donations were in the $100-$500 range, with 764 less than $100. Montgomery received 1,795 with 1,413 less than $500 (748 less than $100). Petro received 1,712 donations with 1,042 less than $500(459 less than $100). Coleman received 1,455 donations, with 893 of them less than $500.

   Candidates were allowed to accept donations up to $10,000. Strickland got 32 donations at this level, while Blackwell had 31. Coleman had 13; Petro, 9; Montgomery, 8.

   The reports also show a number of donations coming from out of state, especially for Blackwell. He reported 21 percent of his donations (1,646) from out of state or listed no state. He had 6,061 donations from inside Ohio.

   Coleman received 12 percent of his donations from outside Ohio, or listed no state of origin. He had 1,282 from in-state.

   Strickland had 11 percent of his donations from out of state, or listed no state of origin.

   He had 1,933 from inside Ohio.

   Petro had 5 percent of his donations from out of state, with 1,621 donations from in-state.

   Montgomery had 3 percent of her donations from out of state, with 1,738 donations from in-state.