Humane Society gives nod to Ohio's incumbent governor

NECN. Oct 18, 2010 5:25pm

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The political arm of the Humane Society of the United States has made its first-ever foray into the Ohio governor's race, endorsing Gov. Ted Strickland over Republican opponent John Kasich.

The nation's top political organization for animal rights cited the Democrat's role in negotiating a June agreement between animal-rights and agriculture interests. The deal called for the Humane Society to pull an anti-animal cruelty measure off the fall ballot in exchange for tougher rules governing farm animal care and a host of other animal protection measures.

Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols says Strickland deserved the endorsement. He says he placed the Humane Society among "left-coast and Washington-based groups that wage war against Ohio's farmers."