A former greyhound industry figure pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a federal charge in connection with a extortion plot targeting West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.

Harry Marshall Rae will go on trial Dec. 19.
    
The FBI says Rae posted a message on the governor's website threatening to smear Tomblin.
    
Investigators say he demanded $50,000 or he would release a video allegedly showing inhumane practices in the greyhound racing industry.
    
Tomblin's family raises greyhounds. Their business became an issue during the special gubernatorial election earlier this month.

Rae claimed he was negotiating with Bill Maloney's campaign to turn the videos over to them, but Maloney's campaign denied the allegations.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Next year's presidential primary in Ohio could be shifted from March to June under one of a variety of plans being discussed by legislative leaders in the key swing state.

Lawmakers are re-examining the 2012 primary date following a decision last week by the Ohio Supreme Court. The ruling allows the state's new Republican-drawn congressional map to be subject to a possible repeal by voters.

Democrats are collecting signatures for a referendum, leaving the presidential and congressional primary contests in limbo.

Contenders must file their candidacy for Ohio's current March primary by Dec. 7. With the court's ruling, the congressional map won't take effect for 90 days, so its boundaries won't be in place by that deadline.

The Senate has called a Thursday voting session. The House plans one Friday.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - An independent political group is asking the Kentucky Court of Appeals to lift a restraining order that is keeping attack ads against Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear off the air in the state.

Restoring America filed a motion Tuesday asking that Franklin County Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate's order be overturned. The appeal wasn't immediately assigned to a judge because the motion had an unspecified technical deficiency that requires it be corrected and refiled.

Restoring America supports Beshear's chief opponent, Republican David Williams.

Wingate issued the restraining order Monday after the Kentucky Democratic Party argued Restoring America violated state campaign finance law by not disclosing who donated $1.3 million in contributions. State law requires such groups to identify their donors in reports to the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance.

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The Associated Press is also reporting that Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel (R) outraised Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in the 2012 U.S. Senate race last quarter.

Mandel raised $1.5 million to Brown's $1.2 million. Brown still has more cash overall with $4.2 million compared to Mandel's $3.3 million.