Ohio was a KKK and union stronghold and has been Dim for decades. Many swallowed thier “roots” to vote for Zero because he was on their side of the aisle. I have in-laws there and it was enlightening to talk with them during a vacation a couple months ago. I would hazard that Ohio is really R-51 O-47 with 2% undecided. Of course, I thought that Palin would put McPain in the win column so what do I know? (rhetorical - no response necessary unless it is really witty and humorous).
Sorry, not going to be witty. McLame sunk himself when he “suspended” his campaign to concentrate on the financial meltdown. Plain supercharged his lackluster effort and it took a concerted effort from comedians and the MSM to paint her as a dunderhead. Plain was the only one running in 2008 with “gravitas.”
Ohio has been a bellwether state, voting with the winner every time since 1964. It has voted republican in 7 of the last 12 elections. As of 2011 the workforce is 13% union, mostly government workers. The demographics are 82% white, 12% black and 3% hispanic(regardless of race).