Struggling Ohio opens doors to casinos

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By Julie Carr Smyth ASSOCIATED PRESS

The issue was intended to thwart efforts by animal right groups to outlaw holding sows, hens and veal calves in cramped cages or crates.

Michael Markarian, the Humane Society's chief operating officer, said the group will return to Ohio with a future ballot measure that protects animals.

"By packaging Issue 2 as a pro-animal and pro-food safety measure, the factory farming interests really did everything they could to ensure its passage," he said. "We never really viewed it as a poisonous measure but we viewed it as an empty one, because it doesn't achieve any reforms for animal welfare."

Large farm operators mounted a $4 million campaign to pass the issue, which was backed by Gov. Ted Strickland, while environmental, animal rights and other activists fought it mostly through the press and the Internet.

Ohio voters also passed Issue 1, which will pay bonuses of up to $1,000 to war veterans who served in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq. It was approved by 72 percent of voters, with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

In big-city mayor's races, incumbent Democrats Mark Mallory of Cincinnati and Frank Jackson of Cleveland won re-election.

Voting went smoothly statewide except for a glitch in Summit County, which includes Akron. The county ran out of ballots around 5 p.m. and had to turn away some voters. Poll workers contacted them and asked them to return after printing more ballots.

The casino fight attracted more than $40.6 million in spending this year -- more than the $40.1 million presidential rivals Barack Obama and John McCain spent trying to win the pivotal swing state in 2008.

TruthPAC spokeswoman Sandy Theis called it a sad day for the state.

"Many Issue 3 supporters genuinely believe it will help Ohio's economic recovery. I hope they are right. I fear they are wrong," she said. "Issue 3 is riddled with loopholes that will shortchange Ohio, muzzle the casino watchdogs and exempt cash wagers from the taxes casinos pay."

Associated Press Writer Stephen Majors in Columbus contributed to this report.