Re: Michigan — Lousy weather helped elect John Engler governor in 1990, when the final poll before the election had him losing by 15 or 20 points.
Re: Ohio — I wonder if Bush would be doing better here if the state’s GOP leaders were more impressive than the sorry triumvirate of Gov. Taft, Sen. Voinovich, and Sen. DeWine. Taft especially is a disappointment. He earned an F on the Cato Institute’s fiscal policy report card for governors. The Buckeye State doesn’t lack for talented Republicans — Ken Blackwell comes to mind — but they don’t occupy the positions of greatest power or prestige.