Ohio AG backs Republican Mitt Romney for president

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio’s attorney general is backing Republican Mitt Romney’s presidential bid, saying he’s best suited to beat President Barack Obama in next year’s election.

Mike DeWine said in a statement today he’s endorsing the former Massachusetts governor because he believes Romney will bring more jobs to the battleground state of Ohio.

The endorsement came as Romney was to make a campaign stop today in the Cincinnati suburb of Terrace Park. He planned to visit volunteers at a phone center seeking supporters for Ohio ballot issues on public employee bargaining and on Obama’s health care overhaul.

DeWine — a Republican and former U.S. senator — previously endorsed former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s run for the White House. Pawlenty left the race in August, and he has since endorsed Romney.