COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Governor Strickland says he must now act
swiftly to replace Marc Dann, who resigned his attorney general post yesterday.

Strickland led the charge for Dann to step down. He said he has a list of possible replacements for Dann, but no serious screenings had begun before Dann's decision yesterday to step down.

Under law, first assistant attorney general Tom Winters will assume the responsibilities of attorney general until Strickland names a replacement.

Among those mentioned as possible successors are Lieutenant
Governor Lee Fisher, higher education chancellor Eric Fingerhut, state Treasurer Richard Cordray, Cuyahoga County prosecutor Bill Mason and Strickland's chief legal counsel Kent Markus.

Dann's resignation means fellow Democrats will be exposed to the same ethics charges that helped them win in 2006.

The Democrats then painted rivals as "George Bush-Bob Taft Republicans." This time, being a "Marc Dann Democrat" is a real danger -- and one that could determine the fortunes of Republican
John McCain and his eventual Democratic rival.

Governor Strickland said in his office moments after Dann
announced his resignation that the Democratic Party responded strongly to Dann's problems.

But Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett warned that
Democrats will find it difficult to try and distance themselves from the scandal.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)