Well, the latest Rasmussen poll numbers have a surprise for Ken Blackwell, and it isn't a good one.
Not only does the poll show Ted Strickland ahead by 6% (42-36%), but it shows something else Blackwell should be worried about. While 42% of those polled had a favorable view of Blackwell (apparently they were asleep during last year's election scandal) a whopping 39% have an unfavorable opinion of Blackwell. By way of comparison, Strickland had 40% favorable rating and 21% unfavorable.
Which means that Ted Strickland is still a fairly unknown commodity to a large percentage of the population. But Blackwell is a well-known commodity, but not a particularly well-liked commodity. Strickland has the advantage of having a greater percentage of the population open to his positive message of reform while Blackwell must convince people he's not as bad as they think, which may be a tough sell even amongst Republicans from my own unscientific poll of anecdotal evidence.
Rasmussen did not conduct similar polls for other candidates with the exception of a hypothetical Strickland v. Kasich matchup which still shows a 6 point lead for Congressman Strickland (Kasich has not, to my knowledge, even declared that he will run). We can expect to see primary numbers from Rasmussen for the Strickland v. Coleman race in January 2006.
Bob Taft continues to be an albatross for the Ohio Republican Party with a strong disapproval from 52% of those polled and an over disapproval of 79%.