Gov & Sen: Dem Leads Smaller in New Zogby Poll

New Wall Street Journal/Zogby polling shows slimmer leads this month than last for the Democratic candidates for Governor and U.S. Senator. In the gubernatorial race, the lead of Rep. Ted Strickland (D-Lisbon) over Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R-Cincinnati) is at 5.7 points:

47.5% Strickland (D)
41.8% Blacwell (R)

Strickland led by 8.3 points in last month's Zogby poll. In the August Rasmussen poll Strickland led by 27 points, and in the July Columbus Dispatch poll he led by 20 points.

In the Senate race, the lead of Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Avon) over incumbent Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Cedarville) is now 4 points, down from about eight points in each of the last two months in the Zogby poll:

44.7% Brown (D)
40.7% DeWine (R)

Zogby notes that DeWine has the backing of just 78% of Republican voters. Brown had an six point lead in the August Gallup poll and a three point lead in the August Rasmussen poll.

The margin of error in both Zogby polls is 3.5 points.