Dann's Out, Edwards Is In and Other News

Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann announced his resignation late yesterday, standing next to the state's Scolding Preacher in Chief Ted Strickland. His office scandal will still be fully investigated, but Strickland will choose his replacement and move on. Interestingly, the post will now be up for election in November in order to fulfill the final two years of Dann's term. Three Cincinnatians have been mentioned as possible replacements: ex-Mayor Charlie Luken, UC law professor Sharon Zealey and Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune.

Former presidential hopeful John Edwards finally threw his support to Sen. Barack Obama, appearing last night at a rally with Obama in Michigan. Even though the announcement comes when Obama is clearly the nominee, the feeling is that Edwards can help him appeal to the blue-collar and rural voters Sen. Hillary Clinton is picking up in states like West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. So can Clinton when she drops out of the race.

The Democrats won their third straight special Congressional election Tuesday, winning the 1st District in Mississippi where President Bush beat John Kerry by 25 points in 2004. The Republican Party, headed by House Minority Leader John Boehner of West Chester, is scared shitless about being routed in November.

O.J. Mayo continues to deny he accepted gifts and cash while playing basketball at North College Hill High School and later at USC. NCH won't have to give back its two Ohio state championships won with Mayo. The NCAA says it has new information about the Mayo case and will be investigating. See my CityBeat editorial here and Sports Blog post here for more background.

— John Fox