Tuesday's primary election notwithstanding, the most interesting political race of the week pitted two young, up-and-coming Cincinnati political figures against each other.

        Final official results show Republican Pat DeWine beating Democrat John Cranley by almost an hour in the Flying Pig Marathon.

        Mr. DeWine, 34, was the proven horse. He ran cross-country at Miami University and once had ambitions of going to the Olympic qualifiers. He's run “five-and-a-half” marathons (he quit Columbus halfway through) and has a career-best time of 2 1/2 hours.

        Mr. Cranley, 28, was in his first marathon. The longest he had ever run was 20 miles. And even then, “I felt like I was going to die.”

        Mr. DeWine was so confident he would beat Mr. Cranley that he bet him dinner at Price Hill Chili — and then spotted him an hour and a half.

        Mayor Charlie Luken predicted Mr. DeWine would win by two days. But Mr. Cranley finished just 59 minutes and 38 seconds behind.

        “I think I was hustled,” Mr. DeWine said. “I guess he ran better than he thought — or, at least, better than he let on.”

        Mr. Cranley will collect his chili dinner next week. He was gracious in victory (or was it?), stopping just short of suggesting that Mr. DeWine was born with silver shoes on his feet.

        Official times: 3:05:26 for Mr. DeWine (71st place overall); 4:05:04 for Mr. Cranley (1,463rd).

        Connections: Democratic Vice Mayor Alicia Reece, defending herself against allegations she attempted to use her position to retaliate against lawyer Kenneth L. Lawson, is represented by attorney Ross A. Wright.

        Mr. Wright, a lawyer with the Fourth Street firm of Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, was the campaign chairman for Mr. DeWine.
        Connections II: In answer to the suit, Mr. Wright notes that Mr. Lawson's law partner, Ayanna Love, is brother of WDBZ (1230 AM) talk-show host Jay Love.

        Mr. Love seemed to have the world exclusive on the filing of the suit last week — a connection Mr. Wright suggested is evidence the lawsuit was politically motivated.

        Mr. Wright is also seeking to have part of the lawsuit dismissed because Ms. Love is not a member of the federal bar.

        Bad "Taste': Officials at City Hall reportedly hit the recently replaced roof Tuesday when they learned that the kick-off event for Taste of Cincinnati will be at Newport-on-the-Levee.

        Cincinnati provides about $90,000 in security and other services to the annual event.

        Clinton watch: Mayor Luken seems in no hurry to indulge former President Bill Clinton's interest in coming to Cincinnati to help mediate race relations.

        It wasn't until late Tuesday afternoon that an aide to Mr. Luken put in the requisite “courtesy call” to an aide to Mr. Clinton. City Hall reporter Gregory Korte can be reached at 768-8391 or gkorte@enquirer.com.

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