Gov. Ted Strickland mixed politics with state business and appeared on CNN during a two-day trip out of state last week paid for by his re-election campaign.

Strickland went to Chicago on March 16 for what the Ohio Democratic Party calls "campaign and party-building meetings" to raise money for himself and the party. Doug Kelly, the party's executive director, declined to provide details.

The governor also held political meetings in New York last Tuesday and spoke at the Spain-U.S. Business Sustainability Conference at the Grand Hyatt New York.

Strickland was invited by the Spanish ambassador in part to discuss the state's partnership with two Spanish companies involved with solar and wind projects with the hope of new development in Ohio, spokeswoman Amanda Wurst said.

The governor also stopped by the Lou Dobbs Show on CNN and made a pitch for Ohio, saying, "I invite people watching this show to come to Ohio. We'll treat 'em well, we'll welcome them and we'll make them a part of the Ohio family."

Taking advantage of Ohio's prominent role in recent presidential elections, the governor has taken many other such trips out of state to raise money for himself and the party since taking office in January 2007.

He previously has said most meetings do not involve direct solicitations but rather are aimed at building relationships with the hope of support from future fundraising appeals.

-- Mark Niquette mniquette@dispatch.com