Ohio's Democrat roots are as long and deep as the KKK and Unions. About the only thing that could get most of them to vote for a Black guy is that he was/is the Democrat's choice. I say this as one who acquired in-laws from the Sprigfield area and have raptly watched/listened/debated with them over the last 20 years. The in-laws now claim that Obama has to go and that everyone they know feels the same, but how much a sectional of Ohio is represented is questionable. You won't see many Romney/Ryan signs in the area, but probably even fewer Obama signs. I still have hopes that Ohio is polling closer than it really is and that they aren't turning into San Francisco (depsite their open disgust at Homosexuality) and Ohio might be ours by 2-5 points come election day.
Ohio has an uncanny ability to mirror the nation.
If the nation goes for Romney, then Ohio will go for Romney.
IF Obama is rolling then Ohio will be rolling along with Obama.
If it’s close nationally, then it’ll be close in Ohio.
Ohio is almost a perfect cross-section that mirrors America at large. It is 4 large statistical areas, a lot of small city/town/village and a large section of rural. Two of the largest statistical areas, Cleveland and Toledo, are bastions of rust-era unionism and minority enclaves. Cincinnati and Columbus were more union resistant, so their inner cities tend democratic but the counties surrounding are conservative.
The rural/small town tend to be conservative.