DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — The Republican and Democrat who ultimately run to fill out the rest of Marc Dann's attorney general term will be competing against more than just one another for voter attention and donor cash.

They'll have to contend against presidential candidates sucking up headlines, voter interest and campaign money in Ohio. And they'll only have about four months to boost their profile and campaign coffers — an abbreviated schedule given that most attorney general candidates have an entire year or more to run.

"It is very, very unusual circumstances, therefore it is fascinating but also very hard to predict," said University of Akron political scientist John Green.

Given the short campaign, conventional wisdom is that each party will want to run a well-known candidate and proven vote-getter, and that they'll want to pick their person soon. "It would benefit both parties to get their candidates chosen," Green said. "Of course, it's easier said than done."

The Ohio Democratic Party will likely set up a screening committee to recommend a nominee to the executive committee, but Gov. Ted Strickland will ultimately have a lot of say in the matter, said Chairman Chris Redfern. So far, Strickland isn't showing his hand and no timetable has emerged.

On the GOP side, Republican leaders have fielded half a dozen serious inquiries, said Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine. A screening committee will set up a deliberative process that DeWine hopes will produce a nominee by the end of June. "I'm not talking names. I'm not talking strategy. I'm talking process," DeWine said.

Plenty of names are being kicked around by others. Those on the GOP side include DeWine's cousin, former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine; former White House budget director Rob Portman, who may be on John McCain's short list for vice presidential candidates; and Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien. Former Attorney General Betty Montgomery has said publicly she isn't interested.

On the Democratic side, political observers are suggesting: Treasurer Richard Cordray, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason and Executive Assistant Attorney General Ben Espy.

Green said he expects the abbreviated race to cost $1 million to $1.5 million — far short of the combined $6 million spent by Dann and Montgomery in 2006.

Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1624 or lbischoff@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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