Rep. Boccieri endorses Fisher in Ohio Senate primary

Freshman Rep. John Boccieri (D-Ohio) announced Wednesday that he is backing Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher over Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner in Ohio's Democratic Senate primary.

The Iraq war veteran, who won an open-seat race last year, becomes the fourth member of the state's congressional delegation to back Fisher, the establishment favorite, over Brunner. The previous three were Reps. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Zack Space (D-Ohio) and Charlie Wilson (D-Ohio).

"I know that, as our next U.S. senator, Lee will be a leader on behalf of all Ohioans," Boccieri said. "Lee will work tirelessly to bring new economic development to our state, which has been devastated by bad trade policies supported by Rob Portman under the Bush Administration."

Portman, a former congressman and Bush administration official, is the heavy favorite for the GOP nomination.

Democrats still sitting the race out are Reps. Steve Driehaus, Marcy Kaptur, Dennis Kucinich, Marcia Fudge, Betty Sutton and Mary Jo Kilroy.