The media know what the problems are of some Republicans in Ohio and they know many of those problems are not actual increases in attraction to Democrats.
The Repbublican problems in Ohio are a disaffected Republican base that is disaffected not because some critical Ohio Republicans are not "moderate" enough, but because they, like many in Washington, have abandoned too many Republican principals - like small government and low taxes. The low polls for some Ohio Republicans reflect conservative, not moderate anger at some of them.
You're on the money. Buckeye GOP problems come from Bob Bennett and his lip-attaching affection for RINOs. Despite the incompetence of Taft et al, and the puzzling drifting by DeWine, the party could be in a much better position if the organizational apparattus were not controlled by rinos. I knew Rocky Saxby 25 years ago when I served with him in the legislature, and he lacked a "pair" then, too.