CINCINNATI (AP) - Ohio's Republican senator is hitting the road in an RV for a 50-stop tour of the state over the next two weeks.

Rob Portman and his wife Jane will launch the tour from near their suburban Cincinnati home Saturday morning, with stops on the first day planned in Dayton, Columbus and Toledo.

The campaign says the tour will take him into 30 counties.

Portman's defending his seat against former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland in a race being watched closely nationally.

Strickland this week announced formation of a coalition of veterans and military families while stepping up his criticism of Portman for endorsing Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Veterans supporting Strickland say Portman should retract his endorsement after Trump's criticism of a Muslim Gold Star family and for other military-related comments.

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