Gov: Strickland (D) Leads by 21 Points in Quinnipiac Poll

According to a Quinnipiac University poll released today, Rep. Ted Strickland (D-Lisbon) leads Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R-Cincinnati) by 21 points:

55% Strickland (D)
34% Blackell (R)
10% Undecided

The poll was taken September 11-17, following much negative advertising by Blackwell and the independent organizations CommonSense Ohio and CommonSense 2006, which have so far refused to disclose the ultimate source of their funding. Pollsters interviewed 876 Ohio likely voters. It has a margin of error of 3.3 points.

The internal numbers are staggering. Strickland leads 88% to 6% among Democrats and 54% to 31% among independents, while Blackwell leads by only 71% to 18% among Republicans. Men favor Strickland by 51% to 40%, women by 60% to 28%. More Stickland supporters say their minds are made up (84%) than Blackwell supporters (78%). Strickland gets a positive favorability rating of 41% to 13%, Blackwell gets a negative margin of 27% to 32%.

Blackwell leads Strickland by 53% to 40% among self-described white evangelical Christians, which isn't very impressive (Bush got 76% in 2004). The survey includes 260 self-described white evangelical Christians, with a margin of error of 6.1%.

A total of 83% say the issue of political corruption is "extremely important" or "very important" in deciding their vote, and by a 48% to 29% margin Ohio voters think Strickland would do a better job ending corruption in state government.

Ohio voters disapprove of the job Gov. Taft (R) is doing by 78% to 14% and disapprove of the job President George W. Bush is doing by 55% to 40%.