Ted Strickland

The state's DNA testing program for inmates seeking to prove their innocence is deeply flawed, with police routinely discarding evidence after trials and court-ordered tests never being completed, a newspaper reported. Judges also ignore requests for DNA testing, leaving inmates in legal limbo, and nearly a third of the denials examined by the Columbus Dispatch failed to cite a reason, as required by state law. Gov. Ted Strickland told the newspaper he was calling for an overhaul.

John Kasich appears headed to victory in the key race for governor in Ohio, leading a clean sweep of the state for the GOP. With nearly all of the state's precincts reporting, Kasich, a former congressman, led incumbent Democrat Ted Strickland by more than 100,000 votes. Strickland's campaign was not ready to concede, however. "Given where voting stands right now and the significant number of uncounted votes that still remain across the state, we are watching the results of this election very closely," Strickland campaign manager Aaron Pickrell said in a statement.

A federal judge in Columbus further delayed an unprecedented second attempt to put a condemned rapist and killer to death by lethal injection. U.S. District Judge Gregory Frost postponed a hearing on the fate of inmate Romell Broom until Nov. 30. Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland stopped the execution Sept. 15 after about two hours when executioners could not find a usable vein. No Ohio governor has issued a similar last-minute reprieve since the state resumed executions in 1999.

Former President Bill Clinton campaigned in Ohio on Saturday, part of a last-minute push by Democrats to capture a state that has been traditionally important to the presidential aspirations of both parties. As he has throughout this midterm campaign season, Clinton slammed Republicans and compared their economic policies during the recession to his administration's positive efforts. "Their deal sounds good but it doesn't work," Clinton said. With just days to go before Tuesday's election, this weekend is whirlwind of stops, rallies and meet-and-greets as Democrats try to energize their base and Republicans continue their push to win the House and Senate.

The governor placed an agency director on paid administrative leave, saying a state computer or state e-mail account may have been used to assist in political fundraising. Helen Jones-Kelley, director of the department of job and family services, had been questioned over records checks made on "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher during the presidential campaign. But a spokesman for Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, said that was not the reason she was put on leave. Jones-Kelley could not be reached for comment.

Risking impeachment, Ohio's attorney general refused demands from the governor and other fellow Democrats that he resign over a sexual harassment scandal and an affair with a subordinate. Gov. Ted Strickland told reporters that Democrats would begin drafting an impeachment resolution against Atty. Gen. Marc Dann right away. Republican House Speaker Jon Husted said that his chamber was reviewing the process. A probe uncovered inappropriate staff-subordinate relationships, heavy drinking, and harassing and threatening behavior by a supervisor.

Lawyers for an Ohio death row inmate who unsuccessfully argued that his obesity prevents humane lethal injection filed an appeal Friday with the U.S. Supreme Court to halt his execution, planned for next week. The Ohio public defender's office filed the application on behalf of Richard Cooey a few hours after Gov. Ted Strickland declined clemency. Cooey, 41, is scheduled to be executed Tuesday for killing two University of Akron students in 1986. The Ohio Supreme Court and the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday denied Cooey's requests for a stay of execution.

Former President Bill Clinton campaigned in Ohio on Saturday, part of a last-minute push by Democrats to capture a state that has been traditionally important to the presidential aspirations of both parties. As he has throughout this midterm campaign season, Clinton slammed Republicans and compared their economic policies during the recession to his administration's positive efforts. "Their deal sounds good but it doesn't work," Clinton said. With just days to go before Tuesday's election, this weekend is whirlwind of stops, rallies and meet-and-greets as Democrats try to energize their base and Republicans continue their push to win the House and Senate.

Sandwiched between a high school marching band and a church van, Democratic Rep. Ted Strickland had to move too fast along the parade route Saturday to engage in much meaningful conversation with his constituents. With his Ford Explorer rolling along beside him, and a rooftop speaker blaring patriotic tunes, he counted on handshakes and waves, and a batch of "Ted Strickland for Congress" signs, to make his pitch for him in this town of 11,000 people.

Two years after scoring a decisive win in the seesawing political environment for which Ohio is famous, President Obama returned Wednesday to an altered landscape, where Democratic fortunes are seemingly tipping back the other way. A fierce battleground in the last three presidential elections, Ohio was good to Democrats in 2008, not only handing the president a victory over John McCain but helping House candidates capture traditional Republican strongholds...

President Obama has invested considerable political capital in the state of Ohio, as shown by his 11th visit to the state this weekend to campaign for Gov. Ted Strickland and other Buckeye Democrats. But two polls released Tuesday show that voters in the state appear to have soured on the leadership of both men. A Quinnipiac University poll finds Strickland trailing his Republican opponent, former Rep. John Kasich, 51%-41%. That's largely unchanged from two weeks ago, when Kasich led 50%-41%.

Rallying unhappy independents, the Republican challenger in Ohio’s gubernatorial race has opened up a sizable lead over the Democratic incumbent, the latest in a string of tough political polls for Democrats. John Kasich leads Gov. Ted Strickland 54% to 37%, according to a Quinnipiac University poll of likely voters released Thursday. The poll, based on interviews with 730 likely voters from Sept. 9 to 14, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points. Ohio has long had a reputation for being a swing state especially sensitive to the shifting political winds.

Two years after scoring a decisive win in the seesawing political environment for which Ohio is famous, President Obama returned Wednesday to an altered landscape, where Democratic fortunes are seemingly tipping back the other way. A fierce battleground in the last three presidential elections, Ohio was good to Democrats in 2008, not only handing the president a victory over John McCain but helping House candidates capture traditional Republican strongholds...

A federal judge in Columbus further delayed an unprecedented second attempt to put a condemned rapist and killer to death by lethal injection. U.S. District Judge Gregory Frost postponed a hearing on the fate of inmate Romell Broom until Nov. 30. Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland stopped the execution Sept. 15 after about two hours when executioners could not find a usable vein. No Ohio governor has issued a similar last-minute reprieve since the state resumed executions in 1999.

The governor placed an agency director on paid administrative leave, saying a state computer or state e-mail account may have been used to assist in political fundraising. Helen Jones-Kelley, director of the department of job and family services, had been questioned over records checks made on "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher during the presidential campaign. But a spokesman for Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, said that was not the reason she was put on leave. Jones-Kelley could not be reached for comment.

Lawyers for an Ohio death row inmate who unsuccessfully argued that his obesity prevents humane lethal injection filed an appeal Friday with the U.S. Supreme Court to halt his execution, planned for next week. The Ohio public defender's office filed the application on behalf of Richard Cooey a few hours after Gov. Ted Strickland declined clemency. Cooey, 41, is scheduled to be executed Tuesday for killing two University of Akron students in 1986. The Ohio Supreme Court and the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday denied Cooey's requests for a stay of execution.

Rallying unhappy independents, the Republican challenger in Ohio’s gubernatorial race has opened up a sizable lead over the Democratic incumbent, the latest in a string of tough political polls for Democrats. John Kasich leads Gov. Ted Strickland 54% to 37%, according to a Quinnipiac University poll of likely voters released Thursday. The poll, based on interviews with 730 likely voters from Sept. 9 to 14, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points. Ohio has long had a reputation for being a swing state especially sensitive to the shifting political winds.

John Kasich appears headed to victory in the key race for governor in Ohio, leading a clean sweep of the state for the GOP. With nearly all of the state's precincts reporting, Kasich, a former congressman, led incumbent Democrat Ted Strickland by more than 100,000 votes. Strickland's campaign was not ready to concede, however. "Given where voting stands right now and the significant number of uncounted votes that still remain across the state, we are watching the results of this election very closely," Strickland campaign manager Aaron Pickrell said in a statement.

Risking impeachment, Ohio's attorney general refused demands from the governor and other fellow Democrats that he resign over a sexual harassment scandal and an affair with a subordinate. Gov. Ted Strickland told reporters that Democrats would begin drafting an impeachment resolution against Atty. Gen. Marc Dann right away. Republican House Speaker Jon Husted said that his chamber was reviewing the process. A probe uncovered inappropriate staff-subordinate relationships, heavy drinking, and harassing and threatening behavior by a supervisor.

The state's DNA testing program for inmates seeking to prove their innocence is deeply flawed, with police routinely discarding evidence after trials and court-ordered tests never being completed, a newspaper reported. Judges also ignore requests for DNA testing, leaving inmates in legal limbo, and nearly a third of the denials examined by the Columbus Dispatch failed to cite a reason, as required by state law. Gov. Ted Strickland told the newspaper he was calling for an overhaul.