Josh Mandel, the leading Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Ohio, is dropping out of the race. Mandel made the announcement in a release posted to the Cincinnati Enquirer's website, citing his wife's health.

Mandel, 40, was poised to run against incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat. Mandel did not specify his wife's health issue. Mandel is currently Ohio's state treasurer.

"We recently learned that my wife has a health issue that will require my time, attention and presence. In other words, I need to be there," Mandel said in the news release.

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Here is the full statement posted to the Cincinnati Enquirer's website: