Obama’s favorability declines in Ohio poll

By Marc Kovac

Some 53 percent disapprove of the way the president’s handling the economy.

COLUMBUS — Fifty percent or more of Ohioans disapprove of President Barack Obama’s work in office and his handling of the economy and health-care reform.

That’s according to the latest poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

In a survey conducted over the past week of 1,123 Ohio voters, 50 percent said they disapproved of how the president was doing his job, up from 42 percent in September.

A total of 53 percent disapprove of the way he’s handling the economy, and 57 percent disapprove of his handling of health care.

“The Democratic wave that swept through Ohio in 2006 and 2008 may be cresting,” Peter Brown, assistant director of the Connecticut-based institute, said in a released statement.

“The Democratic lead in the governor’s and senate races has evaporated, and for the first time President Barack Obama is under water in the most important swing state in the country.”

In Ohio’s Senate race, Republican Rob Portman held slight leads over Democrats Lee Fisher and Jennifer Brunner.

The former congressman and Bush administration official topped Fisher, 39 percent-36 percent, and Brunner, 38 percent-34 percent.

Fisher and Brunner were neck and neck in the Democratic primary matchup, with 24 percent supporting the lieutenant governor and 22 percent backing the secretary of state.

In the Republican primary, Portman outpaced opponent Tom Ganley, 26 percent-7 percent.

“None of the Senate candidates are very well known, but what is significant is that until now, Democrats were winning all the Senate matchups,” Brown said. “Clearly, there is an at least temporary swing toward the GOP in Ohio. Whether it continues is anyone’s guess.”