I finally found someplace that spoke the truth. This entire sorrid story comes down to the fact that Hackett wouldn't sit on his ass and raise money:

People associated with Hackett's campaign say they still believe Hackett could have beaten Brown, but only if he could have raised enough to set aside about $1 million for TV ads. One of their biggest obstacles to banking that money, they said, was that Hackett hated fund raising.

While most candidates share that feeling, people familiar with Hackett's campaign say he was especially resistant to efforts by aides to get him to use one of the most efficient but unpleasant fund raising techniques: sitting at the phone for hours, calling friends, relatives, and strangers to ask for money. Tension over the problem led in January to the departure of his finance director.

If you can't sit on your ass (cell phones sort of change it) and raise money 4-6 hours every day as a US Senate candiate today, you will lose. Hackett lost. I know this for a fact. I gave money to Paul Hackett in the special, and I never got a phone call from him asking for dough.

That's the word coming out of Ohio. Paul Hackett is going to gun down Mean Jean, according to news reports breaking the story here in Cincy right now.

I don't have a problem with it though it's sorta creepy that Hackett voted for GW Bush and against Billy Clinton. I think we got to pull these people over to our side. Even if Hackett loses, it's a good indication that he's now a Democrat:

There's no question Paul Hackett is a fresh face and fast-rising star in the Democratic Party. Turns out he's fresher than most. The tough-talking Iraq War veteran from Cincinnati didn't officially declare himself a "D" until nearly two years ago, a few weeks shy of his 42nd birthday.  Election records in Hamilton County show that Hackett, now campaigning against Rep. Sherrod Brown for his party's U.S. Senate nomination, first picked up a Democratic ballot for the presidential primary between Howard Dean, John Kerry and John Edwards on March 2, 2004. In two earlier primaries during the 1990s, records show, Hackett had asked for Republican ballots.

See blog here, and blog here. And from a source there, check it out:

Hackett did not go over too well with the crowd.  The news cameras showed up in time to record Hackett getting booed and jeered at by the audience.

The speaking part of his thing didnt go over well at all for Hackett.  He started out revising his story about Sherrod telling him in person that he wasnt running, again. Then, he spent a few minutes bashing the religious right.  Barely mentioned DeWine.  About 3 minutes into it, he started criticizing Sherrod. He got booed almost immediately, and when he asked a rhetorical question about what Sherrod brings to the Senate that Hackett doesnt, a number of audience folks offered suggestions like experience, competence, etc. He also got booed for criticizing Sherrods service in the House, when he talked about how Sherrod hasnt done anything.

During the lecture session, an older gentleman stood up and talked about how Sherrod came in and gave a very positive speech about what hell do as a Senator, while Hackett came in and attacked other Democrats. Hackett responded that if he loses, he'll support Sherrod, but Paul Hackett doesnt like to lose and hes got three months in the campaign--Direct quote (does he know he's gonna lost?).

Hackett was also asked about what he thinks should be done with regards to nuclear waste in Pike county. Hackett's response was I'm a candidate for the US Senate, not a nuclear scientist, but I think there's probably some new technology.