Race for Senate tight between DeWine, Brown

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Five weeks before Election Day, Ohio Democrats are poised to move into the governor's mansion and other top offices, ending 16 years of GOP dominance of state politics, a Plain Dealer poll shows.

...Among those running a lot of ads is DeWine. He started airing commercials in March; many of them played up his support for the war in Iraq and votes for bills related to fighting terrorism.

But his support for the war and close association with Bush may be a drag on his campaign: 54 percent of Ohio voters said they disapprove of Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, the Plain Dealer poll shows.

DeWine spokesman Brian Seitchik doesn't believe Bush or the war alone is at issue in the race.

"The political environment is about many factors influencing the voters," he said. "This is a race as close to dead even as it comes, and we will continue to talk about the many successes Sen. DeWine has had working with Democrats and Republicans."

Looking like an independent will matter, as independent voters will make the difference in this race. And at the moment, Brown is winning over more of them, 52 percent to 33 percent, the poll shows.

Brown spokesman Ben LaBolt believes that Brown has the momentum, thanks to independents.

"We've got a state where voters are clearly going for a new direction and there is a 20-point margin among independents who want that change." 

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10/01/2006 / Permalink / 2006, (all tags)