[xzins]

cheating will be less a factor this year in Ohio. Republicans won the Secretary of State job last time it was up for grabs.

The Ohio SecSt runs elections.

The name of the game for republicans is “ground game”. If they go shock’n’awe with their ground game, then they’ll win.

If they can’t get the troops to do so, then they’ll lose.

[thingumbob]

According to a news post I read a week or so ago from someone in the Romney Campaign, Romney is putting his money into the ground game and they've already canvassed more and called more then in 2008 at this time...

Columbus and Cincinnati's totals added to the southern section of Ohio (which generally runs more conservative) will help cover the democratic votes in Northeastern Ohio where Cleveland, Akron, and Youngstown are (think Rust belt-democrats).

I believe this is the strategy that Rove used during the Bush years to turn Ohio toward the right again.

Having a republican, Kasich, there as Governor also helps a lot since he's actually addressing the problems in Ohio and has been turning things around in the state.