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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...

Former U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot of Ohio has filed a federal statement of candidacy for the 2010 election, saying his unsuccessful re-election bid last November was partially sidelined by the candidacy of President Barack Obama. More »

Matheson’s the guy whose brother was nominated to the federal bench on the very day he met with The One about health care. He was a no before … and he’s a no now. Space was yes before, but suddenly he’s a no too — and a hard no judging by his statement, i.e. not one liable to flip back tomorrow. All of which is perfectly dull and predictable if you assume that Pelosi has already made it to 216 and beyond and is simply looking to cut loose a few red-district Democrats to vote no at the eleventh hour....

It’s about the economy, stupid. An unemployed Ohio woman confronted Barack Obama after his health care pitch. She lost her job in the insurance industry this year and blamed Obama for it. Unemployed worker Ingrid Martin says the leftist bloggers are now attacking her for confronting Obama during his dog and pony show. Could you even imagine if this would have happened to Bush?… Do you think it would have made a few headlines? This actually happened on Wednesday but for some reason the corrupt media ignored it.

Let’s see. John Boccieri (D-OH) opposed the initial House bill on ObamaCare, supposedly because of his principles. Now he’s flipping to a yes vote, and why? He is one of four Democrats to switch from no to yes in the past few days as Obama and Democratic leaders try to corral enough votes for the legislation. A vote is expected on Sunday. Boccieri has been pressured on the issue. Labor unions and other groups backing health care reform ran ads in his district. So why did he oppose it in the first place? It looks as though Boccieri got a...

Obama at an ObamaCare Rally in Ohio yesterday where an audience member fainted while he was speaking. Obama stopped his remarks to call for a "medic" to assist the person. Obama said "it looks like someone has fainted. They're probably OK. Just give her or him some space." His campaign events during the 2008 presidential race attracted crowds of thousands of Ohioans; this time, Obama managed a crowd of about 200 people.

Tickets Available For President's Visit to Strongsville FOX8.com Staff Writer 11:02 AM EST, March 13, 2010 WASHINGTON -- President Obama will be in Strongsville Monday, March 15, to discuss health care insurance reform at the Walter F. Ehrnfelt Recreation and Senior Center.

Republican challenger John Kasich has extended his lead over incumbent Democrat Ted Strickland to 11 points in Ohio’s gubernatorial race. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Ohio voters finds Kasich leading Strickland 49% to 38%. Six percent (6%) prefer another candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. Last month, Kasich held a six-point lead - 47% to 41% - over Strickland, mirroring the 47% to 40% lead he had in early January. These results also show little change from the first survey of the contest conducted in December.

Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland leads Republican challenger John Kasich in the race to be Ohio's next governor, 44 - 39 percent, up from a 40 - 40 deadlock November 11, and has improved his standing slightly, but consistently, on a broad array of measures, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

YOUNGSTOWN — Former congressman James Traficant says he's considering a run as an independent, calling it "painful decision" to leave the Democratic party. Traficant made the announcement Saturday on his talk show on WTAM-AM in Cleveland, two days after he passed up a deadline to run in Ohio's congressional Democratic primary Traficant spent years in prison for corruption and has vowed he'll return to politics. He did not specify Saturday for what seat he would run, but says he'll see where he has a chance as an independent. He says it would have been "hypocritical" to have filed as a...

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (Associated Press) -- A former Ohio congressman who served seven years in prison for corruption says he's leaving the Democratic Party and considering a run for office as an independent. James Traficant (TRAF'-eh-kehnt) made the announcement Saturday on his talk show on WTAM-AM in Cleveland. He did not specify which seat he was eyeing for a run. Traficant was elected to nine terms as a Democrat from Youngstown before serving time for racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion. He was released in September.

Columbus Channel 10’s Paul Aker is covering a HUGE story that, according to my sources, is about to get even bigger: Read more: http://www.rightohio.com/2010/02/17/ted-stricklands-drug-sting-cover-up/#ixzz0fsPexaJ3 COLUMBUS, Ohio — Senator Timothy Grendell, chairman of the Ohio State Senate Criminal Justice Committee, plans to hold a hearing into a drug sting that was called off at the Governor's Residence in January, 10 Investigates' Paul Aker reported on Wednesday. Grendell said he wanted a hearing on what he called a "fiasco at the Governor's Mansion" after listening to responses from the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Superintendent, Col. David Dicken. Grendell was not pleased with...

Ganley out of Senate race Republican Tom Ganley is expected to quit his race for the U.S. Senate and will run instead against Democratic U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton of Akron. Sources with knowledge about Ganley's plans said he will make a statement on Thursday. The Ganley campaign declined to comment. Ganley, a millionaire Cleveland-area car dealer, had been expected to file candidacy petitions tomorrow to challenge former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman of Cincinnati. But even though Ganley had vowed to use his personal wealth in a primary, he faced an uphill fight against Portman, who has $6 million on hand...

Republican challenger John Kasich continues to lead incumbent Democrat Governor Ted Strickland in the race for Ohio's statehouse, according to a poll released this week. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in the state finds Kasich leading Strickland 47% to 41%. Faced with that match-up, five percent (5%) like some other candidate, and eight percent (8%) remain undecided. Last month, Kasich posted a 47% to 40% lead over Strickland and in early December was ahead 48% to 39%. The polling data also showed the race currently split along gender lines. Kasich holds a massive 23-point lead among...

Republican candidate Rob Portman outdid Democrat Lee Fisher, as well as all other candidates, in fundraising for his campaign for the U.S. Senate. Reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission showed Portman raising $7.6 million last year and still had $6 million in the bank at the end of the year. His closest GOP challenger was business owner Thomas Ganley with $1.3 million. Current Ohio Lt. Governor Lee Fisher reported $3.3 million in fundraising and $1.8 million on hand. His opponent, Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, raised $677,658 and has just $60,859 left. Portman received contributions of $10,000 each...

OHIO ELECTION CENTRAL If we are going to make a difference in the upcoming election, we need to KNOW the candidates. Please post the names of ALL your Congressional candidates on this thread along with any and all information available. We need names, positions, platforms, news articles, statements, pictures. We need to separate the RINOS from the Conservatives, and most of all, we need to get the liberals of either party OUT!We can do this if you help. I have started this thread. All you have to do is contribute a little time and a little research. Help us...

(AP)Former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. of Ohio, who was released from prison four months ago after serving a sentence for racketeering, tax evasion and bribery, is planning another run for Congress in 2010.

A new poll out of Ohio, which is called the Buckeye State but is really a political keystone state in this year's midterm election and beyond -- waves a large flag about Democratic hopes to hold the governor's office. Ohio Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, like many incumbents across the country, is sliding into deep trouble when racked up against his Republican opponent, former Ohio congressman John Kasich. According to the Ohio Newspaper Poll as published in the Dayton Daily News, Kasich currently leads Strickland 51-45. Last fall, despite earnest campaign efforts by the White House, Democrats lost control of the...

Another Democrat on the ropes, this time the Democratic Governor in the swing state of Ohio who had previously won by 24% in 2006, now trailing former Chairman of the house budget committee John Kasich in new poll..Charts

Earlier this week, during a radio interview, I had said that Obama's appearance for Martha Coakley on Sunday was one of the least effective stump appearances I had seen from a president. A lot of factors contributed to that - Coakley's literally yawn-inducing speech, the decision to use the president as an attack dog in the race, the president (or his speechwriter's) odd fixation on Scott Brown's truck, and so on. But perhaps Obama is in a "stump slump." Maybe it's me; maybe I can't see any Obama speech as a good one these days. But today in Ohio, it...