The Ohio Senate race may be looking like a runaway for the GOP, but the Buckeye State’s gubernatorial fight could still be interesting, according to a new poll from the University of Cincinnati out this weekend.
The poll of likely voters taken last week shows Republican nominee John Kasich leading incumbent Gov. Ted Strickland (D) 49-45. A previous poll taken by the university in May showed Strickland ahead 49-44. Since then, polls have shown Kasich with the momentum. Still, with other recent polls showing Kasich ahead by double-digits, Strickland seems to think the university poll — which is co-sponsored by several newspapers in the state — is cause for celebration.
“Clearly the race for governor is tightening up — a contest which takes place as Ohio struggles to lift itself out of a severe economic downturn (unemployment stood at 10.1 percent in August) and a looming multi-billion dollar budget hole,” the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. “But there is good news and bad news for the incumbent governor in the fact that the race is now close.”
The paper quotes a pollster who says “the fact is, for an incumbent governor, it’s a little bit late in the year to be under 50 percent support.” For his part, Strickland seemed more than pleased by the numbers.
The Dayton Daily News reports:
Emboldened by a recent poll that found Republican challenger John Kasich’s lead was shrinking in the race for Ohio’s next governor, Gov. Ted Strickland said his opponent’s momentum has “peaked” and vowed Sunday “I have a lot of fight left in me.”
Strickland seemed re-energized just after noon as he spoke to crowd of about 100 people from the steps of his tour bus outside Montgomery County’s Democratic headquarters just after noon.
Despite his enthusiasm, polls suggest Strickland still has to fight uphill if he wants to earn a second term as Ohio’s governor. The TPM Poll Average shows Kasich ahead 49.8-41.2.
