Ohio Odds and Ends

-John Kasich's not getting any more popular. 33% of voters approve of him to 53% who disapprove. Only a little more than half of Republicans think he's doing a good job (58/25), while Democrats (9/80) are almost universal in their disapproval. If voters could do the 2010 election over again they'd vote for Ted Strickland by a 20 point margin, 56-36, numbers that not coincidentally track closely with the Senate Bill 5 repeal result from last fall.

-John Boehner's approval was 26/52 on our last national poll and it's not much better in his home state of Ohio at 28/54. Boehner has a similar situation to Kasich where Republicans are meh to him (53/28) while Democrats pretty much all dislike him (8/74). He also does badly with independents at 28/55.

In 2010 Ohio voters elected a Republican Governor and went GOP in many House races, helping to elect a new Republican Speaker of the House from their state. Now they regret the Governor and don't like the Speaker. It's hard for me to imagine that buyer's remorse isn't going to work to the benefit of Barack Obama and other Democrats in the state this fall.

-The best word to describe first term Senator Rob Portman would be anonymous. 42% of voters have no opinion about him, the highest figure we've found for any sitting Senator. Anyone who claims that Portman would be a great running mate for Mitt Romney and help him win Ohio probably deserves a special honor for banal punditry.

-Ohio State fans are excited about their new football coach. 67% approve of Urban Meyer's hire to only 6% who disapprove. Jim Tressel remains very popular with the fan base as well at a 60/16 favorability rating but the strong numbers for Meyer suggest that people are moving on. What might be most impressive is that 70% of voters in the state consider themselves to be Buckeyes fans.

-Ohio voters' feelings about Pete Rose are interesting. They don't like him all that much- only 32% see him favorably to 26% with a negative opinion. But they do overwhelmingly think he should be allowed into the Hall of Fame- 55% believe he should be in Cooperstown with only 23% dissenting. People may not be in love with Rose but they feel that his on field accomplishments outweigh his off field missteps.

-Ohio voters are losing their interest in LeBron James. Last May 72% of voters had an opinion about him, but that's declined now to 48%. He remains unpopular with those who do still care- only 15% see him favorably to 33% with a negative opinion.

Full results here

Comments

[Anon DFLer]

"Anyone who claims that Portman would be a great running mate for Mitt Romney and help him win Ohio probably deserves a special honor for banal punditry."

Ha!

[Mark]

As goes Ohio, so goes the nation. Portman may be the unknown but still rates better than the other options this article lists if Romney goes the OH route for VP. Plus he could actually do the job of Pres. if called upon.