A few sites have noted the Quinnipiac poll in Ohio, showing Gov. Ted Strickland with high approval ratings, way ahead in hypothetical matchups against Republicans, and the possible Democratic candidates leading next year’s Senate race as well.
What struck me about the poll was the astonishingly low name ID for just about all of the Republican candidates. (The good news for the GOP is that this will change in the next 18 months.) For example, 31 percent of respondents didn’t know enough about Mike DeWine to have an opinion of him. He was a two-term senator, folks.
Similarly, 68 percent of respondents said they didn’t know enough about likely GOP Senate candidate Rob Portman to have an opinion of him. I realize U.S. Trade Representative and director of OMB aren’t huge glamour jobs in Washington, but he was in Congress for about 12 years. Must not have made much news outside of his district.
Finally, 70 percent of respondents said they didn’t know enough about likely GOP gubernatorial candidate John Kasich to have an opinion of him. Never mind his nine terms in the House and chairing the budget committee, he had a show on Fox News on Saturday nights . . . that apparently 70 percent of Ohioans have never seen.