Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Ted Strickland is in a dead heat with GOP Sen. Rob Portman at 38 percent each with 23 percent of the electorate still undecided, according to the latest Ohio PPP poll released Monday. Portman’s current approval rating is 32-40, underwater by eight points. Democratic counterpart Sen. Sherrod Brown, by comparison, has 42-33 approval rating.
In particular, Portman’s refusal to consider a vote on President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland is a major sticking point with voters.
53% of voters want to see the seat filled this year to only 39% who don't, including a 60/31 spread with independents in favor of filling it this year. But where voters are really mad with Senate Republicans is the issue of holding hearings and at least giving Merrick Garland a fair shot. 65% of voters think the Senate should have hearings on Garland's nomination to only 21% of voters opposed to doing so. That includes 75/10 support from Democrats, 75/11 from independents, and 47/38 even from Republicans for holding hearings.
In addition, GOP Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is currently sitting pretty with a whopping 14 percent approval rating among Ohio voters, while 50 percent disapprove of him. Kinda of shocking, no? McConnell’s so cuddly.
Please give $3 to Ted Strickland to turn the Senate blue. The future of the Supreme Court depends on it.