Reply #7: Is it possible that the Ohio Democratic Party wants to advertise itself as pro-RKBA? ... [View All]

OH Gov Poll: Strickland +5

June 29th, 2010

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland continues to hold off Republican challenger John Kasich but remains well under 50%, a new Quinnipiac poll finds (June 22-27, 1107 RV, MoE +/- 3%). Strickland's 5-point margin is statistically unchanged since April's poll and identical to March, in part because Kasich remains unknown to half the state.

Strickland 43 (-1 vs. last poll, April 29)
Kasich 38 (nc)
Und 15 (-2)

Strickland has positive job approval and favorable ratings, though they hover in the low 40s. Troubling for Strickland: 59% say they are dissatisfied with the way things are going in Ohio right now; only 33% approve of the way he's handling the economy; 31% say he's kept his campaign promises.

"Kasich still has four months until Election Day and Strickland's other numbers show his potential vulnerability, but at this point the Governor remains ahead despite the anti-incumbency wave sweeping the country," said Quinnipiac assistant director Peter A. Brown. "The good news for Strickland is that he is ahead. Nevertheless, when an incumbent governor is getting less than 45 percent of the vote four months out, it should make him concerned."

RCP rates this race a Toss Up.
http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/2010/06/29/oh-gov-poll-strickland-5/

Gov. Ted Strickland's running mate mum about NRA endorsement; pledges to work to improve cities
Published: Tuesday, June 22, 2010, 1:26 PM Updated: Tuesday, June 22, 2010, 1:49 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Gov. Ted Strickland last week made campaign stops with a National Rifle Association lobbyist in tow, championing his new endorsement from the gun rights group in his race to be re-elected in November.

The Democratic governor's running mate Yvette McGee Brown, however, wasn't with him -- and maybe for a reason. Brown is not a gun owner and when questioned by the media today following a speech in Columbus, she refused to state her position on the Second Amendment.

"I am supportive of the governor and I am happy the governor received that endorsement," Brown said following her first campaign speech as a lieutenant governor candidate.

"I don't know that my position is relevant. I support the governor. And he is the head of the ticket. And the governor has the support of the NRA," Brown said. "I don't want to really say anything more than that."

But she did add: "We support lawful individuals having access to lawful weapons."

Brown did not answer when asked about the city of Cleveland's attempts to use the state constitution's home rule provision to enforce its own, more stringent gun rules, which have been subject to legal challenges.

Strickland has enjoyed the support of the NRA since the 1990s when he was a member of Congress. Last week he was endorsed by the group over Republican challenger John Kasich.

Strickland and Kasich spent time together in Congress in the 1990s where their records on gun control issues differed.

In 1994, Strickland, during his first term in Washington, bucked Democratic President Bill Clinton's high-profile crime bill because it included a ban on assault-style weapons. Kasich voted for the crime bill and supported the ban.

As a result, the NRA bestowed its "A" rating on Strickland, which he has maintained since. Kasich in 1994 was given an "F" rating by the NRA. The NRA also endorsed Strickland in the Democratic primary in 2006 but did not make an endorsement for the general election that year when Strickland went on to defeat Republican Ken Blackwell.

Gun supporters are considered to be a huge and influential voting block in Ohio, especially in the state's rural communities. emphasis added
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/06/gov_stricklands_running_mate_m.html