Portman has the early advantage, leading Brunner 38-37 and Fisher 41-36.

[Kolesar]

Anonymity the Story in Senate Race

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_OH_324.pdf

Raleigh, N.C. – Ohio voters aren’t particularly familiar with any of the candidates
running to take George Voinovich’s seat in the US Senate.
66% don’t know enough about Rob Portman to have an opinion, 62% are ambivalent
toward Jennifer Brunner, and 55% don’t take a stance on Lee Fisher.
Portman has the early advantage, leading Brunner 38-37 and Fisher 41-36. That is
largely due to a 37-25 edge against both Democratic candidates with independents.
Given the obscurity of all the candidates the key to this race may be how Ohio voters feel
about Barack Obama, and that’s not very good. 53% of the state disapproves of the
President’s job performance with only 40% giving him good marks. Portman’s lead may
be more a reflection of that and a good political climate for Republicans than anything
else.
...more...

Portman may be ahead, but there are still a lot of "undecided voters" in the poll.

[Sara Bradi]

1. this polling is of purely academic value

for two reasons, it was done before the primary and it was done too early or too close to the passage of healthcare reform.

Many of Fisher & Brunner's supporters will get behind the other after the primary, there is no such automatic increase for Portman.

Hardball & O'Reilly reported last night that the dems have closed the enthusiasm gap with the Rs after the reform's passage. So a poll in June would be a better barometer of things to come in Nov, I think.

Thanks for the post & link.

[Sara Bradi]

2. also 38-37 is within the margin of error

for any scientific poll.

So Brunner may in fact be leading against Portman.

[Kolesar]

3. No More: Poll shows Ohio Democrats rising in U.S. Senate race

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A poll finds Ohio’s leading Democratic contenders for the U.S. Senate have gained ground against the Republican candidate, while the state’s Democratic governor maintains a lead over his GOP challenger.

The Quinnipiac University survey released Wednesday puts Democratic Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher ahead of Republican Rob Portman 41-37 percent. Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has a 38-37 percent edge over Portman.

Both Democrats trailed Portman in a similar poll last month.

In the Ohio governor’s race, the survey has Democratic incumbent Ted Strickland with a 43-38 percent lead over Republican John Kasich....snip...
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/03/poll_shows_ohio_democrats_risi.html

Portman lost support.

[Sara Bradi]

4. Mike Dewine was on magic (WMJI)

this morning criticizing Cordray for not joining in the lawsuit against the federal government on healthcare.

14 states are suing the feds while 36 aren't, Dewine says we ought to be one of the 15 against the reform.

When Jimmy Malone asked him, "if the 14 states do win the lawsuit, wouldn't the remaining 36 also receive their share of the judgement ?".

Dewine had no explanation other than to say, "yes".

[realisticphish]

5. haha

asshole

[OhioBlue]

6. lol! uber fail Mike!!! n/t