If Senator Sherrod Brown plans on running for election in 2012 she has large strides to make over the next two years. Ohio voters have mixed feelings about Brown and may be quick to replace her with a Republican. 38% of voters approve of the Senator’s work, 34% disapprove and 28% are unsure. 45% of Ohio voters said they would reelect Brown and 41% said they would rather support an unnamed Republican.
While her reelection numbers fall almost exactly along party lines demonstrating strong party loyalty across the state, her approval ratings suggest that many voters in both parties are unaware of Senator Brown’s work. 28% of Democrats, 31% of Republicans and 23% of Independents have no opinion of Brown. The Senator needs to focus on constituent support and outreach if she hopes to be reelected in 2012.
Neither Congressional Democrats nor Republicans get high marks from Ohio voters. Democrats have an approval rating of 33% and Republicans 20%. That extra 13% doesn’t pay off for the Democrats. Ohioans said they’ll vote for Republican Congressman over Democrats this fall 44 to 43%.
Former Senator Mike DeWine is marginally ahead of incumbent Richard Cordray in the Ohio Attorney General race, 44 to 41%. 15% of voters are still undecided and the largest percentage of undecided voters are Democrats. Cordray could close the gap if he can gain the support of his own party.
“In a state like Ohio, where party loyalty is so strong, it is important that politicians remember who elected them, said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Voters have to know that they have someone in Washington and Columbus who knows them and represents them.”
PPP surveyed 482 Ohio voters from June 26-27. The survey’s margin of error is 4.5+/- 3.9%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Sherrod Brown’s job performance?
Approve…………….. 38%
Disapprove………… 34%
Not Sure……………. 28%
Q2 Generally speaking, would you vote to re-elect
Sherrod Brown in 2012, or would you vote for
his Republican opponent?
Brown ……………………………………………………. 45%
Republican opponent ……………………………….. 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%
Q3 The candidates for Attorney General are
Democrat Richard Cordray and Republican
Mike DeWine. If the election was today, who
would you vote for?
Richard Cordray………………………………………. 41%
Mike DeWine ………………………………………….. 44%
Undecided………………………………………………. 15%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Mike DeWine?
Favorable……………. 35%
Unfavorable ………… 34%
Not Sure……………… 32%
Q5 Will you vote Democratic or Republican for US
House this fall?
Democratic……………………………………………… 43%
Republican……………………………………………… 44%
Undecided………………………………………………. 12%
Q6 Do you approve or disapprove of the job
Democrats in Congress are doing?
Approve…………….. 33%
Disapprove………… 58%
Not Sure……………. 9%
Q7 Do you approve or disapprove of the job
Republicans in Congress are doing?
Approve…………….. 20%
Disapprove………… 64%
Not Sure……………. 16%
Q8 Who did you vote for President last year?
John McCain…………………………………………… 44%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 50%
Someone Else/Don’t Remember………………… 6%
Q9 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 18%
Moderate………………………………………………… 45%
Conservative…………………………………………… 37%
Q10 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 50%
Man……………………………………………………….. 50%
Q11 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If you are a
Republican, press 2. If you are an independent
or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 44%
Republican……………………………………………… 38%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 18%
Q12 If you are white, 1. If African American, press
2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 84%
African American …………………………………….. 12%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q13 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1 now. If
you are 30 to 45, press 2. If you are 46 to 65,
press 3. If older, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 4%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 27%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 43%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 27%
