2010 elections

Poll: Dems Lead In Key Ohio Races

Eric Kleefeld | March 31, 2010, 10:43AM

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D-OH) and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D-OH)

The new Quinnipiac poll of Ohio shows the Democratic candidates leading in the gubernatorial race, plus the election for the open Senate seat of retiring Republican Sen. George Voinovich -- with the potential for a Democratic turnaround in the wake of the health care bill's passage.

In the Senate race, Democratic Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner were each tested against Republican Rob Portman, a former Congressman and former Bush administration official. Fisher leads Portman by 41%-37%, and Brunner has an edge of 38%-37%. In February, Portman led Fisher by 40%-37%, and led Brunner by 40%-35%. The margin of error is ±2.5%. The TPM Poll Average gives Portman an edge of 39.6%-38.6% over Fisher, and a 39.4%-38.1% edge over Brunner, with recent movement in the Democrats' direction.

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OH-SEN

Poll: Ohio Dem Senate Primary Up In The Air

Eric Kleefeld | March 30, 2010, 9:49AM

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D-OH) and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D-OH)

A new Quinnipiac poll in Ohio shows that in the run-up to the May 4 Democratic primary for Senate, the big leader in the race is..."undecided," with this race way up in the air.

Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher has 33% support, while Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has 26%. Another one percent answered "someone else," and 40% are undecided. Furthermore, among those respondents who did express a choice, only 31% said their minds are made up, and 65% could change their minds.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Rob Portman, a former Congressman and Bush administration official. The Dem primary poll does give Fisher a possible leg-up in this regard: 37% think he is the one more likely to win a general election, compared to only 18% who say the same about Brunner.

OH-SEN

Poll: GOPer Portman Has Narrow Lead In Ohio Senate Race, Obama Unpopular

Eric Kleefeld | March 24, 2010, 3:34PM

Ohio Senate candidate Rob Portman (R)

The new survey of Ohio by Public Policy Polling (D) gives Republican Senate candidate Rob Portman a narrow lead in the race for the open seat of retiring GOP Sen. George Voinovich. But more importantly, a lot will ultimately ride on President Obama's popularity or lack thereof in November -- and as of right now, Obama is not doing too well in Ohio.

The poll of registered voters finds that Portman, a former Congressman and ex-Bush administration official, leads Democratic Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher by 41%-36%, and has a statistically insignificant edge of 38%-37% over Dem Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, with a ±3.9% margin of error.

The TPM Poll Average currently gives Portman a lead of 40.8%-37.2% over Fisher, and a lead of 40.9%-37.9% over Brunner.

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2010 elections

Ohio Republicans Crack Birther Jokes When Introducing Senate Candidate Rob Portman (AUDIO)

Christina Bellantoni | March 9, 2010, 1:16PM

Former State Rep. Jim Buchy (R-OH) and Rep. Jim Zehringer (R-OH)

Two Ohio Republicans this weekend made birther jokes questioning President Obama's citizenship status at a local fundraising dinner starring Senate candidate and former Bush administration official Rob Portman.

Master of ceremonies and former state Rep. Jim Buchy, president of Buchy Food Service, opened his remarks at the Darke County Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday with a comparison between Obama and the 16th president.

According to audio recorded by someone at the dinner and obtained by TPMDC, the joke concludes with: "Lincoln was a skinny lawyer. Obama is a skinny lawyer. Lincoln was a Republican. Obama is a skinny lawyer. Lincoln was highly respected. Obama is a skinny lawyer. Lincoln was born in the United States. Obama is a skinny lawyer."

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