Fundraising takes Gov. Strickland out of state 40 times

COLUMBUS (AP) — Records supplied to a newspaper by the Ohio Democratic Party show Gov. Ted Strickland has traveled out-of-state for political fundraising 40 times since taking office in 2007.

The Columbus Dispatch reports today that 22 of those trips to raise campaign cash for himself or his party have been within the past year.

Ohio Republican Chairman Kevin DeWine says Strickland’s record of political travel suggests Ohio has an “absentee governor” who’s always in campaign mode.

The governor dismisses the criticism, saying he does not neglect the affairs of the state.

On Thursday, Strickland reported that he has raised $2.5 million toward his re-election bid in 2010. About a quarter of that money came from outside Ohio.