COLUMBUS, Ohio (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 Tuesday that 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 made a campaign stop in Ohio, Tuesday.
Romney is steering clear of Ohio ballot campaigns on union bargaining and President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
Romney visited a Republican Party center Tuesday in the Cincinnati suburb of Terrace Park. Volunteers there are making phone calls in support of issues to uphold legislation restricting collective bargaining for public employees and whether to let Ohioans stay out of the Obama plan's individual insurance coverage mandate.
Romney told Republicans those issues were up to Ohioans but he hopes to have their support for president. He noted that it's difficult to get elected without carrying Ohio and said he intends to do that.
Critics of Romney say his opposition to Obama's plan conflicts with enactment of a Massachusetts health plan when he was governor.
Romney has said there are important differences, including that state voters can get rid of the plan if they want.