Article published November 13, 2009
Poll: Ohioans favor GOP in Senate race
Ex-Cincinnati congressman has slight edge over 2 Dems
By JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
COLUMBUS - In another example of the fading fortunes of Ohio Democrats, a new poll yesterday showed the Republican front-runner for an open U.S. Senate seat holding a slight lead for the first time over Democratic candidates.
Rob Portman, a former Cincinnati-area congressman and White House budget director, is narrowly preferred in 2010 match-ups with both Democratic candidates, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, according to the latest poll by Connecticut's Quinnipiac University.
The same poll showed 53 percent of Ohio voters disapproving of how President Obama has handled the economy, while 57 percent don't like his handling of health-care reform.
The poll, which demonstrates many voters have not made up their minds a year out from the election, has Mr. Portman leading Ms. Brunner 38 percent to 34 percent and Mr. Fisher 39 to 36 percent. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.9 percent, making both contests virtual ties.
But before either match-up can become reality, all three face primary contests in May. In a tight contest, the poll has Mr. Fisher leading Ms. Brunner for the Democratic nomination 24 percent to 22 percent. Among Republicans, Mr. Portman leads Cleveland car dealership owner Tom Ganley 26 to 7 percent.
"Nobody knows who these guys are," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "So the movement toward Republicans is not because of what it says about Portman, but what it says about Democrats. It's no coincidence that we're seeing the same trend with [Gov. Ted] Strickland and Obama."Both Mr. Portman and Ms. Brunner used the poll to take aim at Mr. Fisher.
"It's clear that voters are rejecting the failed policies, disastrously implemented by Lt. Gov. Fisher while he was Ohio's jobs czar," Portman spokesman Jessica Towhey said.
Ms. Brunner's campaign said the poll found Ms. Brunner trending up.
"Jennifer Brunner is clearly the strongest general election candidate," campaign manager David Dettman said. "The Democrats know that, even if they aren't yet willing to say it out loud."
While Mr. Portman tied him to Mr. Strickland, Mr. Fisher tied his possible GOP opponent to his old boss.
"Rob Portman's going to need a lot of lipstick for this pig whenOhioanslearn thatPortmanwas thechief architectof the [President George W.] Bush economic and trade policies that have devastated Ohio," Fisher campaign manager Geri Prado said.
Largely unknown outside the Cleveland area, Mr. Ganley launched his cable TV ad campaign this week in hopes of changing that.
"The ad is going to introduce Tom's message in places where voters are ready to listen," campaign spokesman Jeff Longstreth said. "While our opponent has been traveling the state trying to learn how to create jobs, Tom has been creating jobs for 41 years."
A Quinnipiac Poll released Wednesday showed that after leading for several months, Mr. Strickland is for the first time tied with his probable Republican opponent next year, former congressman and Fox News political pundit John Kasich.
Contact Jim Provance at:
jprovance@theblade.com,
or 614-221-0496.
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