(Angus Reid Global Scan) – United States congressman Ted Strickland is the frontrunner in Ohio’s gubernatorial race, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 52 per cent of respondents in the Buckeye State would vote for the Democrat in this year’s election, while 36 per cent would support Republican state secretary Ken Blackwell.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – United States congressman Ted Strickland is the frontrunner in Ohio’s gubernatorial race, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 52 per cent of respondents in the Buckeye State would vote for the Democrat in this year’s election, while 36 per cent would support Republican state secretary Ken Blackwell.
Bob Taft—a Republican—has acted as Ohio’s governor since 1999. The former state secretary defeated Tim Hagan in the November 2002 election with 58 per cent of the vote.
In August 2005, Taft was convicted of four misdemeanour crimes after failing to report $3,500 U.S. worth of golf outings and gifts received from political and business leaders. The governor was fined $4,000 U.S. plus court costs.
On May 2, Strickland and Blackwell won their respective state primaries. Earlier this month, the two campaigns released radio advertisements. The Republican spot compares Strickland with 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, and says he “consistently votes for higher taxes, flip-flops on important issues, and has a less than impressive record in Congress.” The Democratic ad accuses Blackwell of being inconsistent, saying he opposes gambling, but owns stock in a slot machines manufacturer.
The election is scheduled for Nov. 7. No Democrat has won a gubernatorial election in the Buckeye State since Dick Celeste in 1986.
Polling Data
Election 2006 – Ohio Governor
May 8 | Apr. 19 | Mar. 28 | |
Ted Strickland (D) | 52% | 52% | 50% |
Ken Blackwell (R) | 36% | 35% | 40% |
Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 500 likely Ohio voters, conducted on May 8, 2006. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.
