Ohio Dems Strickland endorsement

Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, holds a six point edge over incumbent Republican Rob Portman in the 2016 U.S. Senate contest in Ohio, a new Quinnipiac poll found. Portman, though, holds a strong lead over the other Democratic challenger, Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld.

(Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer, File, 2010)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, holds a six-point advantage over incumbent Republican Sen. Rob Portman for the 2016 election in a new poll of Ohio voters released Monday.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, conducted June 4-15 simultaneously with polls for 2016 Senate races in Florida and Pennsylvania, found that Portman polled far ahead of another Democratic challenger, Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld.

But despite Strickland's lead, a strong job approval rating for Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, coupled with a low rating for President Barack Obama, a Democrat, suggests that the Senate race could be close, said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Poll.

"Gov. John Kasich was re-elected in a landslide in 2014, while President Barack Obama carried the Buckeye State comfortably in 2012," Brown said.

"Yet Kasich remains a political icon, while Obama might have difficulty winning in Ohio these days, factors which could boost Sen. Rob Portman's re-election chances," Brown added.

"But it's too soon to be sure where anyone's numbers will be on Election Day 17 months from now," Brown said.

The survey results are part of a series of polls Quinnipiac has conducted in key swing states Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida over the last several months.

No candidate has won the presidency since 1960 without capturing at least two of the three states. No Republican has ever won the presidency without winning Ohio.

The Ohio poll surveyed 1,191 Ohio voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.

Strickland, who is endorsed by the Ohio Democratic Party, led Portman 46 percent to 40 percent. But a full 10 percent of voters said they were uncertain who would get their vote.

Forty-seven percent viewed Strickland favorably, while 29 percent had a negative view. Another 23 percent said they needed to know more about him to form an opinion.

More than one-third -- 35 percent -- said they didn't know enough about Portman, who took office in 2011, to form an opinion of the first-term senator. Of those with an opinion, 43 percent viewed him favorably, while 23 percent viewed him negatively.

Yet, 49 percent said they approved of Portman's job performance, compared to 28 percent who disapproved. Another 23 percent said they didn't know.

Voters' lack of familiarity showed through in their opinions on a Portman-Sittenfeld matchup.

Portman led by a large margin, 49 percent to 24 percent, but a full 20 percent said they didn't know who they would vote for.

And a full 85 percent said they didn't yet know enough about Sittenfeld to form an opinion of him. His favorable and unfavorable ratings both were at 7 percent.

Job performance ratings for Kasich, Obama and Brown could be seen as a potential aid for Portman down the road, Quinnipiac's Peter Brown said.

Obama drew just 40 percent approval, while 56 percent disapproved of his job performance.

Kasich, who drew a 61-percent job approval rating in April, continues to have strong support. In Monday's poll, 60 percent of voters said they approve of his job performance, while 30 percent disapprove.

Democrat Sherrod Brown drew a 50 percent favorable mark for his performance as senator, while 31 percent were negative.