Ohio Dems seek to tie Gov. Kasich to Rupert Murdoch

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Democrats are trying to raise money by tying Republican Gov. John Kasich to troubled media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

The Blade newspaper of Toledo reports state Democratic Chairman Chris Redfern sent a fundraising email Tuesday claiming no U.S. public official has benefited more from Murdoch’s News Corp. than John Kasich.

Murdoch gave $1.25 million last year to the Republican Governors Association, saying later he hoped it would help candidate Kasich, a former commentator on News Corp.’s Fox News. Murdoch and his wife gave Kasich’s campaign for governor a combined $20,000.

Redfern wrote that Kasich’s Fox salary, his contribution from Murdoch and the money to the governors' group should be donated to charity.

The Blade reports a Kasich spokesman dismissed the comments as “more ankle biting from the politically impotent.”