ONLY THE SHADOW KNOWS--Gov. Bob Taft gestures during a news conference concerning the DeRolph III supreme court ruling, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, Sept. 7, 2001. Taft said that cost estimates to satisfy the court's order range from $400 million to $1.2 billion. The governor said that he continued to be opposed to installing video lottery terminals (VLT's) at race tracks, would not raise taxes and would not cut the budget of essential services. (Photoj.com/Jack Kustron)

STATE OF THE STATE--Gov. Bot Taft gestures during his State of the State Address, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001. On the right is House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, and in the center is Senate Pres. Richard Finan, R-Cincinnati. (Photoj.com/Jack Kustron)

FUN WITH THE GUV--Gov. Bob Taft stifles a laugh as he kids about being photographed, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2001. Taft had just kicked-off the Combined Charitable Campaign for state employees and was in a jovial mood when he met with the press corps. (Photoj.com/Jack Kustron)

GIMME A TEE--Gov. Bob Taft speaks in front of an American Federation of Teachers banner, while addressing the Ohio Federation of Teachers convention, at the Adam's Mark Hotel, in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, April 6, 2001. Taft received a warm welcome from the teacher's group. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

SMALL STEPS, BIG STRIDES--Gov. Bob Taft leads children from Ohio Ave. Elementary School in doing jumping-jacks during the kick-off of a statewide health and wellness initiative entitled "Small Steps, Big Strides for Healthy Ohioans, Healthy Communities," in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday, Oct. 15, 2001. The program is designed to lower Ohio's chronic disease rates by improving nutrition and physical activity, and reducing tobacco use. (Photoj.com/Jack Kustron)

TAFT DONATES BLOOD--Gov. Bob Taft jokes with reporters while he squeezes a rubber ball as he donates blood, at the Nationwide Corporate Donor Center, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2001. The event was part of Volunteer Blood Donor Month. (Photoj.com/Jack Kustron)

A GIRAFFE AND A HALF--Gov. Bob Taft reads the Shel Silverstein book A Giraffe And A Half to kindergarten students at Ecole Kenwood Alternative Elementary School, in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2001. Taft was at the french immersion school to promote all day kindergarten as part of his school-funding plan. (Photoj.com/Jack Kustron)

EXPORTING AWARDS--Gov. Bob Taft is seen behind the crystle globes awarded to winners of the Governor's Excellence in Exporting Award, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, July 19, 2001. Taft will be leading a trade mission to Germany in October, 2001. (Photoj.com/Jack Kustron)