U.S. Sen. and 2008 presidential nominee John McCain is endorsing a fellow military veteran from Ohio in the
race for U.S. Senate.
McCain visited Ohio on Monday to support Treasurer Josh Mandel. McCain says the 34-year-old Republican "represents the new generation of leadership" that the senator says is needed to control spending, improve the economy and boost national security.
Mandel is challenging incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown. Brown's campaign criticizes Mandel's lack of experience and ill attention to his treasurer's job.
Mandel missed the first 14 monthly meetings of a powerful deposit board he chairs as treasurer. The Monday event with McCain marks his first news conference since taking state office in January 2011.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was slated to endorse Mandel later Monday outside Cleveland.