Ohio Gubernatorial Candidates Won't Restrict AP Photo Coverage

By: The candidates for Ohio governor have reversed themselves, agreeing to allow The Associated Press to shoot still photos for pool coverage during their second debate.

The campaigns of Republican Ken Blackwell and Democrat Ted Strickland had said photo coverage would be restricted to the candidates' handshake before Wednesday's scheduled debate and interviews afterward.

In a letter to the campaigns, the AP, dozens of its member newspapers and the Ohio Newspaper Association demanded that photo access be given for the full debate. The AP and those organizations were prepared to boycott photo coverage of the debate if full access was not allowed.

"The candidates were wise to change their position," said Doug Clifton, editor of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, Ohio's largest newspaper. "They're foolish to have held it in the first place."

Frank Deaner, ONA's executive director, said voters and the democratic process benefit from the decision.

"We're pleased that the candidates have reconsidered and now recognize the importance of complete debate coverage, including still photographs," he said.

Reporters and photographers were denied entry to a television studio in Youngstown where the first debate took place Sept. 5. Reporters had to watch the debate on TV monitors, which showed each candidate when speaking and no reactions from the other candidate. The only still photography was a picture of the candidates shaking hands before the debate.

The campaigns earlier agreed to allow print, radio and television reporters who had obtained credentials into the studio of WEWS-TV for Wednesday's debate. The debate is to be shown statewide on television and the Internet.

Blackwell spokesman Carlo LoParo said Wednesday that space is always a concern at debates. But he said the campaign wanted the public to be able to view the event both on television and through still photographs.

The Strickland campaign said the AP satisfied its concerns over whether a photographer would distract the candidates.

"Access to the media outweighed a concern over minor distractions through the debate," said Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey.