Trouble In The Buckeye State

Ohio's Democratic governor, Ted Strickland, is looking at a long slope to climb to get re-elected if the latest Rasmussen numbers are correct.

Unemployment in Ohio has jumped to 10.5%, the state is wrestling with an $851 million budget shortfall, and Governor Ted Strickland has proposed delaying a tax cut approved in 2005. Add it all together, and it’s a tough environment for the incumbent Democratic governor who now trails his expected general election opponent by nine percentage points in an early look at the 2010 race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Ohio shows Republican John Kasich getting 48% of the vote while Strickland picks up just 39%. Three percent (3%) say they’d prefer a third-party candidate, and 11% are not sure who they would vote for. In September, the two men were essentially even.

Not good news.  Then again, pretty much any incumbent Governor is in trouble in 2010 due to unemployment numbers.  The good news for Strickland is the new casino measure passed, and that will mean jobs.  The bad news is they won't be finished until 2013, which probably means Ohio will have John Kasich in Columbus.