Outside money pouring into Ohio's Senate race

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Nowhere is as much money being spent on a Senate race this year as in Ohio, where liberal Democrat Sherrod Brown is seeking a second term. His fate, to some degree, is dependent on how well President Barack Obama does in Ohio's tossup presidential contest.

Outside interest groups are flooding Ohio with money. Unions, environmental and other liberal groups are supporting Brown while the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, business and conservative groups are bundling campaign cash in support of his Republican challenger, Josh Mandel.

Even before the outside spending, the two Senate campaigns have raised a record-setting $25 million — $15 million for Brown and $10 million for Mandel. That's more than the entire amount spent in each of the state's last two Senate races.