COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The race for Ohio's next governor is running down to the wire. Voters will head to the polls next Tuesday, and the candidates are locked in a tough and personal fight for each vote.

Ken Blackwell is a non-traditional candidate running a non-traditional race for governor. He has made a career out of rocking the Republican boat and pushing conservative issues.

In a one-on-one interview with NewsCenter 7’s Jim Otte, he said much of his focus in this race has been job creation.

Blackwell said, “We have to do something that will make Ohio attractive for capital investment, business formation and job creation.”

Blackwell’s campaign for governor follows a long career in a variety of offices. He is a native of Cincinnati and was elected state treasurer and then secretary of state.

He is pro-life, anti-gay marriage and an outspoken opponent of big government.

While Blackwell has stuck to his strategy, his opponent, Jim Petro, has tried everything to engage Blackwell in this fight. Petro is even running pointed, aggressive, even negative television commercials targeting Blackwell, reported Otte.

Blackwell said, “What we’ve tried to do is run a tough but truthful campaign, contrasting the very important issues.”

A key part of the Blackwell campaign is a proposed constitutional amendment, which will be on the ballet in November. The Blackwell plan puts a limit on government spending, both statewide and locally.

The plan has state universities and local authorities up in arms, who said it will hurt more than help. But, Blackwell said controlling government spending is key to our future.

Blackwell said, “State and local government in this state have been spending money like drunken sailors. And, the only difference between them and drunken sailors is that drunken sailors spend their own money."

Blackwell has already pulled off one important victory in the Miami Valley, winning the majority of votes at the Miami Valley Republican Convention earlier this year.