CNN/Time Poll: GOP candidates on top in Ohio
(CNN) - The Republicans are in the driver's seat in Ohio's Senate and gubernatorial races, according to a new poll. And a CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday indicates that Independent voters may be a key reason for the GOP's advantage.
Fifty-two percent of likely voters questioned in the poll back Ohio Republican Senate nominee Rob Portman, with 41 percent supporting Democrat Lee Fisher, the state's Lieutenant Governor. Portman is a former representative and a Bush administration budget director. The winner in November will succeed retiring Republican Sen. George Voinovich.
"Fisher is doing well in the Cleveland area, his home base, and he manages a tie with Portman in the northern industrial portions of the state. But Portman has a huge lead in the remaining regions of the state, including a 21-point edge in the Cincinnati area, where he comes from," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Portman also has a two-to-one advantage among Independents."
In the gubernatorial battle, the survey indicates that Republican challenger and former congressman John Kasich holds a 51 to 44 percent advantage over Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland.
"Geographically, the difference between Portman and Kasich is the Cincinnati/Dayton region. That's Portman's home territory, and he gets 57 percent there. But Kasich, who comes from Columbus, is only pulling 44 percent in southwestern Ohio, with Strickland capturing a majority of likely voters in that area," Holland notes. "That's not enough to put Strickland ahead of Kasich, but it does make the gubernatorial contest a tighter race than the battle for the Senate."
According to the survey, Kasich holds a 16 point advantage among Independent voters.
Besides being a battleground in this year's midterm elections, Ohio is also in the political spotlight since it's a crucial state in the fight for the White House.
The CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted September 10-14, with 820 likely Ohio voters questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error for likely voters is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
- CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
This after all the money taxpayers have spent flying Obama and his entourage there every other week to campaign...I mean make Presidential speeches?!?!
I think Ohio is sending Obama a message, but somehow his political advisors will spin it to him so that he thinks they still love him in Cleveland.
Portman, a former "Bush Admin. Budget Director"? Go figure, some folks are just destined to repeat history as much as it sucked the first time.
Ohio, how in the world can you support a man that was part of the administration that almost destroyed our country? What are you thinking, or are you? And, independents. you of all people should knoiw better.
Course, should not get too upset as it is, after all, a CNN poll and we know where their support is.
Back to the "soup lines" Ohio where GWB put you during his term. Get your bowl and spoon ready for your States Great Depression, no jobs are coming to Ohio and if the Republicans promised you this and you believe it, then please don't starve the children.
Portman is a former representative and a Bush administration budget director........and that went well????????....he should be given the BOOT!!
Makes perfect sense! Ohio has suffered greatly under the policies of the Republicans during the last administration. So, Ohio, good for you... vote them back in!
What's wrong with this picture?
"Stupid is as stupid does"
Ohio gave us GW in '04.
Fool me once, shame on you. Ruin the country twice, shame on you again... This horrible recession, caused by GOP non-regulation of banks (aka pure rightwing greed), would have been much worse if not for Obama. So what do you want to do? Revert to the same mentallity that ruined this country for a decade. God help us.
If I was President Obama i would not waste my time in Ohio. They love to be poor and without jobs. Let's just give them what they want. I am sure that once it is all over, they will need that healthcare packet and tax breaks for the middle class but it will be too late.
You idiots should check your facts. Bush pulled the economy out of the post .com slide of the Clinton administration and was going strong until the democrats took over control of congress. But I guess facts are meaningless to you nimrod lemmings.
Some days I don't feel proud to be an Ohioan. The baseless lies and fear mongering have swayed the ignorant to support a party that simply wants power and will oppose doing good to get it
We gave chance to republicans 2000 to 2006 they didn’t do nothing
Republicans vote fear. They always have and always will. That's why their candidates are always mad. Look at John Boehner. Would you invite that guy to your home for dinner? We need to take back America. We're becoming a socialist nation under Obama. Well, here's a thought; we became a broke nation under GOP rule. Ohio has been hit as much as if not more than any other state by outsourcing. And they believe that it's Obama's fault the economy sucks there? So be it. You can lead a horse to the well, but in this case, they shouldn't take a drink.
As an Ohioan, trust me, we know what the Republicans did for not only this country but for this state. The Repubs have been in charge 16 of the last twenty years and they have run Ohio into the ground. Moses could not part all the crap that the Republicans have created and now they want to be in charge again because they think they can do a better job. It is amazing that folks have such short memories. Yes, I wish think were better for everyone, but I realized that it is going to take take to right this sinking ship. I just don't get folks either. I hope folks will discover their memory in time for Election Day!!!
I can't believe Ohioans would stupid enough to elect a former Bush Budget Director. That crowd was a walking disaster. And given the pinch Ohio is in, why would you even trust anybody that toiled for Bush and destroyed this economy to ruin it again?!?!?!?!
Ohio is a Red state, they only elected Strickland because the GOP was cocky enough to run a black candidate that most blacks didn't even like. I-80 is the Mason-Dixon line in Ohio, you get Cleveland and Toledo as Blue, everywhere else is Red.
POOR OHIO!!!
They also have Boehner who also sucks the big onion!
First off, it is not fair to pin everything that went wrong on Bush. Any politician "serving" us is just as responsible as Bush for the downfall of this country. Second, how is it Ohio's fault for electing Bush for the short comings of our country and even our state? Last I checked, 51% of voting Americans don't live in Ohio. This is as much America's fault as it is Ohio's. And to the point of the hour how do we know that any one of the two candidates, Kasich or Strickland, are the right way to go? In my opinion both Democrats and Republicans are not doing their jobs and are at a constant partisan bicker. And as a voting, republican Ohio citizen, I can tell you that because I am not impressed by any candidate on the ballet, I do not know how this election will resonate or fair. We need a new style of politics, and I don't mean the narrow-minded way of the TEA party movement. Even as a Republican I am fearful of there movement. Take a look at Deleware, a non-experienced candidate was just voted in as Governor over an 8 term senator. Sounds like another Sarah Palin, need I say more?
All Hope and Change got Ohio was Gas.
Who are this independent voters?
Are they educated or stupid and dumb.?
there is no way Ted Strickland beats Kasich in SW Ohio....the strongest Republican part of Ohio...and then loses the rest of the state...something must be wrong with this poll
when ya'll going to learn when all of your jobs or ship over seas
Another reason to avoid the Buckeye state.