Will Reardon drop out of race?

The Mahoning County treasurer is expected to make an announcement this week.
COLUMBUS -- U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland and state Sen. Marc Dann, running for governor and attorney general, respectively, won recommendations over the weekend of the Ohio Democratic Party Steering Committee for party endorsement.
However, Mahoning County Treasurer John Reardon, a candidate for state auditor, canceled his appearance before the screening committee, indicating that he planned a related announcement sometime this week, according to Brian Rothenberg, Ohio Democratic Party communications director.
Reardon's action has led to speculation that he may withdraw from the race.
Telephone calls Sunday afternoon to Reardon and Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairwoman Lisa Antonini, who works in Reardon's office as chief deputy treasurer, were not returned.
Suggested for endorsement
The ODP Steering Committee, which screened candidates for statewide offices, did recommend that state Rep. Barbara Sykes of Akron, D-44th, receive the party's endorsement for state auditor.
Sykes, head of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, was endorsed by Strickland, of Lisbon, D-6th, despite his having donated $2,500 to Reardon's campaign Dec. 29. Also, Reardon had done much in 2002 to help Strickland's campaign for U.S. representative in Mahoning and Columbiana counties.
The Ohio Democratic Party's full executive committee is scheduled to vote on endorsements Wednesday at Fawcett Center Auditorium on the Ohio State University campus.
Members of the ODP Screening Committee, headed by Atty. Jim Friedman of Beachwood, met from 9:30 a.m. until late afternoon Saturday.
Ohio Supreme Court candidate William O'Neill, a judge with the 11th District Court of Appeals, declined to appear before the screening committee.
Recommendations
Screening committee recommendations were:
*U.S. Senate: U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown of Lorain, D-13th.
*Governor/lieutenant governor: Strickland/Lee Fisher.
*Attorney general: Dann, a Liberty resident who represents the 32nd state Senate district.
*Auditor: Sykes.
*Secretary of state: Jennifer Brunner.
*Treasurer: Richard Cordray.
*Supreme Court (O'Donnell seat): A.J. Wagner.
*Supreme Court (Resnick seat): Ben Espy.
Screening committee recommendations are nonbinding. Only the executive committee has the power of endorsement in statewide candidacies. Any endorsed candidates emerging from this week's meeting will have the full advantages of Ohio Democratic Party support for the duration of the primary election period, Rothenberg said.