Heimlich to leave Petro's campaign for Governor

Breaking News----

1:25 p.m.

Sandy Theis
Plain Dealer Bureau
Columbus

In a stunning blow to Attorney General Jim Petro's campaign for governor, running mate Phil Heimlich is dropping off the ticket to run for re-election as Hamilton County Commissioner, sources said.

The Petro campaign would not confirm or deny the information but has scheduled a 4 p.m. news conference today.

Despite persistent rumors that Heimlich would not remain on the ticket, top Petro advisers insisted for weeks that he would remain in the race and help Petro win the GOP primary for governor.

Sources said Heimlich was under intense pressure from Hamilton County Republican Party leaders who view him as their best bet for keeping the three-member county commission in Republican hands. They also said that Heimlich was concerned that Petro - once viewed as the front runner - was too much of a long-shot for the nomination.

Also seeking the nomination are Auditor Betty Montgomery from northwest Ohio and Secretary of State Ken Blackwell from Cincinnati.

Petro tapped Heimlich early, hoping that his conservative credentials and Cincinnati roots would sway the party's conservative base, especially social conservatives who would be inclined to support Blackwell.

Democrats seeking their party's nomination are U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon, state Sen. Eric Fingerhut of Shaker Heights and Bryan Flannery, a former state representative who now lives in Strongsville.