Gov & Sen: Strickland (D) Up by 21, Brown (D) by 10 in WKYC/SUSA Poll

A poll released today by WKYC-TV 3 and Survey USA shows gubernatorial candidate Rep. Ted Strickland (D-Lisbon) with a 21 point lead over Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R-Cincinnati), and U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Avon) with a 10 point lead over Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Cedarville):

56% Strickland (D)
35% Blackwell (R)
2% Fitrakis (G)
2% Peirce (L)
6% Undecided

Strickland's lead is down by an insignificant amount (1%) since the August poll. A quarter of Republicans support Strickland, but only 5% of Democrats support Blackwell. Strickland leads among independents by a 5:2 ratio. Blackwell leads among conservatives by 36 points, but Strickland leads among moderates by 37. Strickland leads by 14 points among men, by 28 among women.

52% Brown (D)
42% DeWine (R)
7% Undecided

Brown's lead is up by 2% since the August poll. The candidates are tied among men, Brown leads by 19 among women. DeWine is supported by 80% of Republicans, Brown by 86% of Democrats. Brown leads by 27 points among independents, up from a 15-point lead a month ago. DeWine leads by 60 points among conservatives, Brown by 81 points among liberals. Among moderates, Brown leads 2:1. DeWine leads in western Ohio, Brown leads in central and eastern Ohio.

The pollsters interviewed 900 Ohio adults, of whom 788 were registered to vote and 490 were judged "Likely Voters" (only the latter were included in the results). The margin of error is 4.5%.