Digging up some press on Eric Fingerhut, the Ohio Dem who will run against Voinovich for the Senate next year, I discovered an interesting editorial from the November 23, 2003 Dayton Daily News. Here is the best part:
"If you were to take Ohio's elections for state offices at face value, you would conclude that Ohioans are simply Republicans. That's how dominant Republicans have been in Columbus in all the branches of government.
"The evidence of GOP leanings is so strong that in 2000, Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore gave up on the state because he expected defeat, which became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
"Now, however, a poll about the governorship asks, "If the election were held today, would you vote for the Democrat or Republican?" The results: 42 percent said Democrat; 35 percent Republican; 23 percent undecided.
(cont.) "This finding is of decidedly limited importance. That election [i.e., the one the poll was surveying opinion for], after all, doesn't happen until 2006 [they were polling for the 2006 Governor race). ...
"Nevertheless, the poll does make one point clear: Whatever other problems the Ohio Democratic Party may have, a strong public predisposition toward the Republicans is not among them.
"The Republicans simply have been running better known, more accomplished, better funded candidates during largely good economic times.
"The times have been changing, though. In the poll, 55 percent said the state is heading in the wrong direction. Such numbers have prevailed across the country for both Republican and Democratic state governments. The numbers suggest problems for incumbents, pending, at least, the economic upturn that may be coming."
Keep this in mind the next time Ohio is discussed as a doubtful or swing state.