Virtually everything that is said by any politician during the weeks leading up to an important election is, well, political. It is to be expected - but not always accepted.

During a campaign stop on behalf of Sen. Barack Obama last week, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland downplayed reports of voter registration fraud involving ACORN - the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. Strickland called allegations against ACORN "overblown and exaggerated."

That isn't accurate - and Strickland knows it. Allegations that ACORN submitted voter registration forms that contained false information have been made in at least a dozen states. Some of the most serious reports have been received in Ohio. One man in Cleveland admitted that he had submitted more than 70 fraudulent registration forms, through ACORN operatives.

But ACORN is an ultra-liberal organization. It supports Obama for president, and so does Strickland.

While in Martins Ferry on Saturday, the governor said allegations against ACORN are "little more than a political ploy" by supporters of Republican Sen. John McCain, who is running for president against Obama.

What Strickland didn't say is that ACORN has made no secret of the fact that its voter registration drive targets people more likely to vote for Obama than for McCain. The McCain campaign has solid grounds on which to question ACORN's activities - and authorities in several states have uncovered evidence of improprieties by the organization.

The impact of fraudulent voter registration forms submitted through ACORN is difficult to gauge, of course. But questions about its activities are legitimate. Strickland is doing the public a disservice by attempting to dismiss the issue. In fact, the governor's own comments clearly are, well, "little more than a political ploy."