Now, has that message been broadcast elsewhere? Absolutely - same thing here in New Hampshire. But from what I've heard from my relatives in Ohio is that for whatever reason (a lower unemployment rate than the national average? The popularity of government bailouts for the auto industry/fear of the GOP ending such support?) the messages are sticking despite GOP efforts to counter them.
I'd be very interested in hearing from others in the state as to why Obama remains more relatively popular there than one might expect.
Very depressing tbh
One reason; Progressive Insurance Co. Big employer in the Cleveland area, pays well, good benefits. Many have a relatives that works there. Owner of the company heavily in the tank for Obama.
I'm from PA but have family in OH. None are speaking to me at this stage of the campaign.
On a positive note, the precinct where I live in SWPA has only 16 registered Republicans but I'm seeing lots of "Stop the War on Coal" signs and only one neighbor with an Obama sign.
We in Ohio have been carpet bombed with anti-Republican ads for the last year and a half, starting with the run-up to the referendum against SB 5 (the “anti-union” bill supported by Gov. Kasich). The referendum killing SB 5 won by a huge margin in Nov. 2011 (61-32). The continuous, negative ads (Obama ads started after the union ads had ended) apparently have had some effect.
On the other hand, in 2010 both Kasich and Rob Portman won state-wide elections (Portman won by a large margin). Also, in Northeast Ohio there is a lot of support for Josh Mandel’s Senate campaign among Jewish voters who are generally strong Democrats. This may help Romney.