Ohio Senate: Portman Even With Fisher, Leads Brunner

December 10, 2009 2:19 PM | | Comments (0)

Former Rep. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) is in a very close race with Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher but has opened up a lead over Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D) in a key 2010 Senate race, according to a Rasmussen Reports survey conducted Dec. 7 of 500 likely voters.

Portman had 38 percent against Fisher's 36 percent, but his lead over Brunner is a more comfortable 40 percent to 33 percent. Portman has a higher favorability rating than either Fisher or Brunner.

More Ohio voters disapprove than approve of the job performances of President Obama, who narrowly carried the state in the 2008 election, and Gov. Ted Strickland (D), who was easily elected in 2006 but faced a difficult re-election bid next year.

Republican officials in Washington, D.C., and Ohio are backing Portman in the May 4 primary election over Tom Ganley, a wealthy auto dealer.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee hasn't formally endorsed a candidate but has made some limited "coordinated expenditures" to promote Fisher's campaign. Fisher this week was endorsed by David Plouffe, who managed Obama's presidential campaign and whose firm does media consulting for Fisher.

CQ Politics presently rates the Ohio Senate race as a tossup. The winner will succeed Sen. George V. Voinovich (R), who is retiring after two terms.

To see how the 2010 Senate races are shaping up, check out the CQ Politics' election map.

-Greg Giroux

More from CQ Politics

Categories: Rasmussen Reports, Senate

Tags: Brunner, Fisher, Ganley, Ohio, Portman, Voinovich

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