Southern Ohio is a R stronghold and getting stronger. Dems are losing their grip on smaller Union Dem towns like Dayton and Toledo esp. as those towns diversify their industry and grow huge suburbs in tech and small business. Cincinnati remains one of the few large Cities that voted for Bush and balances other Ohio cities like Cleveland. To win Ohio a Democrat must get Union voters to the polls in old union towns, appeal to the rurals by being conservative and hold their own in Suburbs. All Bush will have to do is GOTV in Ohio Southern cities, Cincy, Columbus, and Dayton. the rural support is already there.
I noticed a little bit with Toledo(which borders here).
Before Proposal A which cut our prop taxes, developement stopped at the state line. Today, I see a lot of new development in Monroe County(between Toledo and Wayne County). Monroe used to be solid democrat(although social conservative). Gore won it, but so did Posthumus(GOP) for governor. They love their guns there too.
Bedford Township(Dundee) in Monroe borders Toledo. It is the fastest growing township there, and it is also now the largest and most GOP. It can now counter Monroe City.
I'm sure the same is happening on Toledo's south/West suburbs.