Ohio AG DeWine switches from Romney to Santorum

DeWine had endorsed Romney in the Republican presidential race after his initial choice, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, withdrew.

The defection comes as a sting to Romney, though he still has some major names in Ohio Republican politics behind him heading into the March 6 primary. They include Sen. Rob Portman, Reps. Mike Turner and Jim Renacci, and the former senator and governor, George Voinovich.

Romney’s camp tried to wave off the development.

“Nothing has changed,’’ insisted John Sununu, a Romney adviser and former New Hampshire governor. “Attorneys general don’t have that much of an organization.’’

He attributed the switch to an ad a pro-Romney group ran criticizing Santorum’s vote in the Senate to give voting rights to felons once they complete their sentences or parole. DeWine also had cast a vote in favor of such rights.

“Mike DeWine was upset that issue was raised by the super PAC,’’ Sununu said.

DeWine said Friday he had never seen the ad and it didn’t impact his decision.

Ohio Democrats, through their spokesman Seth Bringman, issued a terse statement in response to DeWine’s decision: “As is true for countless Ohioans, the more Mike DeWine learned about Mitt Romney, the less he liked.’’

DeWine successfully pushed for Ohio to join 25 other states in a lawsuit to block President Barack Obama’s federal health care overhaul, claiming health insurance mandates are unconstitutional.

He served four terms in the House and two terms in the Senate before losing his re-election bid to Sherrod Brown in 2006. He won a close election for state attorney general in 2010.

Sununu was joined by Turner in a conference call aimed at countering Santorum’s latest piece of good news. Turner said Santorum, who has lacked money and organization for much of the race, won’t get on the ballot in all states and that raises questions about his “basic level of competence.’’