COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Arizona Sen. John McCain plan trips to Ohio Monday to campaign on behalf of state Treasurer Josh Mandel's U.S. Senate race.

Mandel's campaign is holding morning events in Columbus with McCain and events later in the afternoon in suburban Cleveland with Christie.

Mandel, a Republican, is seeking to defeat incumbent first-term Democrat Sherrod Brown.

Christie, a Republican, was encouraged by many to run for president, while McCain was the GOP presidential nominee in 2008.