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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2008 > December > 10
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Polls show varying views of Voino
Two polls in a 48-hour period portray Sen. George Voinovich’s political lot in different ways.
On Tuesday, Survey USA released a poll giving Voinovich a 46 percent approval rating and a 44 percent disapproval rating. Voinovich’s Democratic colleague, Sen. Sherrod Brown, had a 43 percent approval rating and a 43 percent disapproval rating, according to Survey USA.
Then, on Wednesday, Dec. 10, Quinnipiac University released a poll that found 36 percent of Ohio voters currently want to give Voinovich, a Republican, a third term. Thirty-five percent, meanwhile, were ready to back an unnamed Democratic candidate.
Still, that poll also found that Voinovich was viewed favorably by 51 percent of voters compared to 31 percent who disapproved.
Voinovich’s office wouldn’t comment on the poll, saying Voinovich, who won’t face re-election until 2010, is focused on other matters, including the package to help the auto industry.
So we’ll put it to you: How do you think Voinovich is doing?
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House passes “Joe the Plumber” legislation
The Ohio House today, Dec. 10, passed a bill aimed at preventing the kind of government snooping that made Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher - “Joe the Plumber” - a household word nationwide and a player in the presidential campaign.
The vote was 69-26. The bill now goes to the Senate.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Shannon Jones, R-Springboro, calls for firing any unclassified employee who violates privacy rules by improperly accessing confidential personal information.
It also sets criteria for determining who has access to and may authorize access to confidential, personal information.
Jones said it’s aimed at eliminating “dirt digging” on private citizens. Rep. Steve Driehaus, D-Cincinnati, said the issue was important but questioned whether the state could afford it in a tough budget time
A representative of the Department of Administrative Services estimated it could cost $100 million to implement.
Rep. Tom Brinkman, R-Cincinnati, said “in good times or bad” the privacy of citizens must be paramount.
Gov. Ted Strickland suspended Director Helen Jones-Kelley of the Ohio Job and Family Services Department for a month without pay for her role in the “Joe the Plumber” case. Four other employees were disciplined.
Ohio Inspector General Tom Charles concluded that Jones-Kelley improperly authorized the search of state databases with personal information on Wurzelbacher of suburban Toledo during the presidential campaign. He became a key figure in the Ohio campaign after questioning Democrat Barack Obama’s tax plans.
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Steve Forbes backs Blackwell for national RNC chairman
In a letter sent Tuesday, Dec. 9, to Republican supporters, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell announced that Steve Forbes (right) will serve as the honorary chairman of his campaign to lead the Republican National Committee.
In a letter to RNC members, Forbes called Blackwell “someone who is a reliable conservative who has a record of standing up for our conservative principles; Someone who can broaden the appeal of the Republican Party; Someone who has a history of winning elections Someone who has clearly established himself/herself as a successful fundraiser, and; Someone who is an articulate and experienced spokesperson.”
The letter was posted to Blackwell2009.com.
Forbes ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 1996 and 2000.
Here’s the full text of Forbes’ letter:
MEMORANDUM
To: Republican National Committee Members From: Steve Forbes Date: December 9, 2008 Subject: Ken Blackwell for Chairman
Ken Blackwell is a courageous and extraordinary leader and longtime personal friend. I have served with Ken on the boards of a number of conservative political organizations and worked with him for many years. He is a loyal, competent, and sincere individual.
During your discussions about the future of our party and the election of a new RNC chairman, I ask you to please consider supporting Ken Blackwell.
Ken brings a winning political record to the table, having been victorious 13 of the 17 times that his name has been listed on a primary or general election ballot. The significance of his three successful statewide elections in Ohio as a Republican should not be understated.
Were we to make a list of the qualifications for a new chairman, we might agree on these five:
Someone who is a reliable conservative who has a record of standing up for our conservative principles; Someone who can broaden the appeal of the Republican Party; Someone who has a history of winning elections Someone who has clearly established himself/herself as a successful fundraiser, and; Someone who is an articulate and experienced spokesperson; All five of these qualities are abundantly present in the life of Ken Blackwell.
Ken will be ready to lead our party on Day 1. He is well acquainted with Washington, but he has never become part of the system. He has ruggedly maintained his anti-establishment views and reform agenda. Simply put, Ken will affect Washington. It will not affect him. It never has.
For all of these reasons and more, I am pleased to inform you that I will serve as Honorary Chairman of the Ken Blackwell for RNC Chairman campaign.
In this capacity, and as a Republican voter from the state of New Jersey, I humbly ask you to vote for Ken Blackwell for Chairman.
Thank you for your service to our party.
Sincerely,
Steve Forbes
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How is Gov. Strickland doing?
A new Quinnipiac University poll released today, Dec. 10, shows Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland’s approval rating slipping a bit but he still appears to be in fairly strong shape for re-election in 2010.
The governor’s race is nearly two years away but to get to that re-election campaign Strickland will have to get a two-year budget passed next year during very tough economic times. Voters also are waiting for him to come through on his pledge to come up with a new plan for school funding.
Republicans are determined to field a strong candidate against Strickland in two years. Kevin DeWine, the deputy Ohio Republican Chairman, likes to mention former U.S. House members John Kasich and Rob Portman. DeWine’s cousin, former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, however, is better known to voters at this point than Kasich or Portman.
Here’s your chance to give Strickland a mid-term grade.
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Strickland’s approval falls; still favored for re-election
Gov. Ted Strickland’s job approval rating has fallen to 54 percent, the lowest of the year, but the Democrat still appears in strong shape for re-election in 2010, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released today, Dec. 10.
The poll also found that former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, the Cedarville Republican, is the best known of Republicans considering a challenge to Strickland in 2010, although former U.S. House members John Kasich of the Columbus area and Rob Portman of the Cincinnati area are well regarded among those who know them.
In another development, the poll found that Republican U.S. Sen. George Voinovich may face a tough fight for re-election to a third term in 2010. In the poll, 36 percent want to give him another term while 35 percent backed an unnamed Democratic candidate.
The poll also found that Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner could face re-election problems. She is viewed favorably by 26 percent of voters, compared to 24 percent who view her unfavorably and 49 percent who don’t know enough about her.
Her possible Republican opponent, House Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering, is a blank slate to 86 percent of voters who havent’ heard enough about him to have an opinion.
For full poll results, click here.
In the new poll, 54 percent approved Strickland’s job performance while 25 percent disapproved. This is down from a 60-25 percent approval rating in August. His highest approval rating in the polls since taking office in 2001 was 61-15 percent in November of 2007. His lowest was 45-12 percent in February of 2007.
“He’s in good shape,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Most governors would be very happy with those numbers half way during his term. He’d have to be considered a favorite for re-election…”
His approval rating still was higher than that of the Republican-controlled legislature. In the poll, 46 percent viewed the legislature’s performance favorably, while 35 percent had an unfavorable view.
Among possible Strickland opponents, Mike DeWine, defeated in his 2006 re-election bid, is viewed favorably by 43 percent of voters, compared to 24 unfavorably. Kasich is viewed favorably by 18 percent and unfavorably by 8 percent. Portman is viewed favorably by 12 percent and unfavorably by 7 percent. High percentages of voters hadn’t heard enough about Kasich or Portman to rate them.
While Voinovich is a nip and tuck battle in the poll with an unnamed Democratic opponent, he still was viewed favorably by 51 percent of voters compared to 31 percent who disapproved.
The contradictory results may indicate that voters are saying “he’s part of the past. We’re in the mood for something new,” said Brown.
The poll was taken Thursday, Dec, 4- Monday, Dec. 8 with 1,468 Ohio voters and has a margin of error of plus of minus 2.6 percentage points.
