Republican Kasich Ousts Democratic Ohio Governor, Fox Projects

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican John Kasich ousted Ohio Democratic Governor Ted Strickland in Tuesday's elections, winning in a state that has been hit hard by the recession and will be a major battleground in the 2012 presidential election, Fox News projected.

Kasich, a former congressman, had slammed Strickland for his stewardship of the state's economy as governor. Strickland countered that Kasich was backing policies that he said would send U.S. jobs overseas. (Reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky; Editing by Frances Kerry)