Raleigh, N.C. — PPP’s second poll in a row in the Buckeye State shows once embattled Governor John Kasich improving his standing, both in job approval and in a test of his 2014 reelection bid. His approval rating stands even, a 7 point bump, with his disapproval at 41% and he leads a generic Democratic challenger by 4 points, after showing narrow leads against a host of hypothetical opponents in June.
“John Kasich has really resurrected his image after a shaky first year in office,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “He’s gone from being one of the most unpopular Governors in the country to about average.”
Senator Rob Portman has benefited from some good press surrounding his VP buzz, bringing his net approval up from +1 to +7, with 38% approving of his job performance and 31% disapproving. This comes from a rise among both independents and Republicans, of 12 points and 14 points respectively.
House Speaker John Boehner is about as unpopular as ever in his home state, with his approval rating increasing nominally to -10 from -12 two months ago. However, more Ohio voters would vote to keep Boehner in the Speaker’s seat over Nancy Pelosi, with the generic congressional ballot moving from a tie at 43% in June to a 4 point Republican advantage.
Cleveland Browns fans outnumber Cincinnati Bengals fans by nearly 2 to 1 in the state, 37% to 21%. However, in a show of classic midwestern realism, Ohio NFL fans expect the Bengals to outperform their preferred Browns in the coming season, 40% to 26%.
There is far less discord over college football, as the Buckeyes are overwhelmingly popular, with 71% of respondents considering themselves fans. Urban Meyer enjoys sky high approval at OSU, with 60% of fans approving of his performance and only 2% disapproving. When asked to pick between Meyer and former coach Jim Tressel, OSU fans go for Meyer by 5 points.
PPP surveyed 961 likely Ohio voters from August 9th to 12th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.16%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Rob
Portman’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .38%
Disapprove…………. .31%
Not sure …………….. .30%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor
John Kasich’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 41%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q3 Generally speaking, if there was an election
today, would you vote for Republican John
Kasich or his Democratic opponent?
John Kasich ……………………………………………. 43%
Democratic opponent……………………………….. 39%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of House
Speaker John Boehner’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 35%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 21%
Q5 If there was an election for the Congress today,
would you vote Democratic or Republican?
Democratic……………………………………………… 41%
Republican……………………………………………… 45%
Undecided………………………………………………. 14%
Q6 Do you think early voting should be available to
all Ohio voters in the last three days of the
early voting period, or only for members of the
military?
It should be available to all Ohio voters ………. 61%
Only to members of the military …………………. 30%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Q7 The Ohio Citizens Independent Redistricting
Commission Amendment would create an Ohio
Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission
to establish the boundaries for Ohio’s state
legislative and congressional districts every 10
years. If the election was today would you vote
for or against this amendment?
For ………………………………………………………… 37%
Against…………………………………………………… 24%
Undecided………………………………………………. 39%
Q8 Who do you think will have a better season this
year: the Cincinnati Bengals or the Cleveland
Browns?
Bengals………………………………………………….. 40%
Browns…………………………………………………… 26%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 34%
Q9 Are you a bigger fan of the Bengals or the
Browns, or do you not root for either team?
Bengals………………………………………………….. 21%
Browns…………………………………………………… 37%
Don’t root for either team………………………….. 42%
Q10 Do you consider yourself to be an Ohio State
fan, or not?
OSU fan…………………………………………………. 71%
Not an OSU fan ………………………………………. 29%
Q11 (Q24-26 asked only of OSU fans) Do you
approve or disapprove of the job Urban Meyer
is doing as football coach?
Approve …………………………………………………. 60%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 2%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 38%
Q12 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Jim Tressel?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 65%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 14%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 21%
Q13 Who would you rather have as football coach:
Urban Meyer or Jim Tressel?
Urban Meyer …………………………………………… 38%
Jim Tressel……………………………………………… 33%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 29%
Q14 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 10%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 18%
Moderate………………………………………………… 30%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 25%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 18%
Q15 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%
Q16 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 40%
Republican……………………………………………… 37%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 24%
Q17 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 82%
African-American …………………………………….. 13%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%
Q18 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 12%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 40%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
