Ohio: Mike Crites

The case, filed by former Attorney General Marc Dann in April 2007, was considered a long shot but with a potentially huge payoff for thousands of Ohioans whose homes had lead paint before it was outlawed in 1978.

"I understand and strongly agree that exposure to lead paint is a very real problem," Cordray said in a statement announcing the dismissal. "But I also know that not every problem can be solved by a lawsuit."

The case, pending in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, targeted companies that had made lead paint as well as the parent companies of long-defunct manufacturers.

The case alleged that the manufacturers knew about, or should have known about, the health hazards of lead, which include developmental disabilities, mental retardation and even death.

Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon that he was not interested in being appointed to the position of state treasurer.

Mallory was responding to several news reports that speculated he may be leaving Cincinnati for the position.

State Treasurer Richard Cordray is projected by the Associated Press to win election as Ohio’s next attorney general, his second elected statewide office in as many years.

Cordray (D-Pleasant Twp.) won 69 percent against former U.S. Attorney Mike Crites (R-Powell) 27 percent. Independent Robert Owens won about 4 percent.

Cordray was elected treasurer in 2006 and previously served as Franklin County treasurer.

A poll conducted by Suffolk University shows Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) leading Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) by 9 percentage points among likely Ohio voters in the race for president.

The poll was conducted October 16 to October 19 among a sample of 600 likely voters with a +/- 4 percent margin of error.