Poll: GOPer Portman Has Narrow Lead In Ohio Senate Race, Obama Unpopular(Approve 40% Disapprove 53%)

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

[Red Steel]

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.

By and large, all the candidates are unknowns, and thus the undecideds are quite high. The pollster's analysis notes the importance of President Obama: "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."

"None of the candidates in Ohio is really standing out right now," writes PPP president Dean Debnam. "But if Barack Obama's numbers in the state remain this low it's not likely to elect a Democratic Senator this year. His popularity could be the deciding factor in this race."

[worst-case scenario]

Talking Points Memo?

[HiTech RedNeck]

Where are my unicorns? I want my unicorns!

[hinckley buzzard]

I would say Portman is fairly well known in the southern part of the state. He is mostly unknown in the vote-heavy NE quadrant. Nobody knows Brunner because she holds a low profile office in Ohio and has no statewide presence. Fisher is a more familiar name but only because he ran for every office around for years, mostly unsuccessfully, before finally sucking in on the 'rat momentum in 06.

My guess is Portman in a close one.

[randita]

If the people in OH don’t know Brunner, the rest of the country does because it was her office staff who were responsible for dishing out all the dirt on Joe the Plumber.

[TonyInOhio]

PPP never gets Ohio right. I suspect Portman has a lead well outside the margin of error here. And, I'd bet the Dem machinery will get behind Lee Fisher in the primary, which is good, because Lee Fisher is an idiot (no offense to idiots).

The trends look good for a big GOP year in Ohio.

[Bronzy]

Okay, who is this person? If he is a real patriot, then I am sure we will send funds to his assistance. I am sure that conservative patriots from all over will support those true to our efforts to rid this country of socialists.

[TonyInOhio]

P.S. I'm glad the buzzards are back; the roadkill is getting ripe around here.

How come the Swallows of Capistrano get a song, but nobody sings about the Buzzards of Hinckley? :)

[chris_bdba]

The RNC needs to start dumping $$ into Ohio for Portman!

[Frantzie]

PPP is a Dem polling company isn’t it? 53% dislike the Kenyan and 40% like him? He is a POS.

We have to win the House and then Boehner defunds this nightmare. This is war.

[wheelgun]

Rob’s voting record while he served in the U.S. Congress will tell you all you need to know. Compare his stands to Sherrod Brown’s and George Voinovich’s, and draw your own conclusions.

http://www.ontheissues.org/OH/Rob_Portman.htm

[SoConPubbie]

Rob’s voting record while he served in the U.S. Congress will tell you all you need to know. Compare his stands to Sherrod Brown’s and George Voinovich’s, and draw your own conclusions.

While Portman is great on the social issues, he is absolutely LOUSY on Illegal Immigration. As bad, if not worse, than John McCain.

[wheelgun]

You are right on, immigration is his achilles heel. Since Ohio turned blue, you can’t find pure conservatives here with a search warrant. All I know is we can’t afford to have two ‘rat senators for the next four years. I’ll settle for Portman in D.C. and Kasich as governor to begin turning the tide.