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Friday, July 3, 2009
Voters back ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation
By a large margin, Ohio voters backed a proposed state law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.
In the Quinnipiac University Poll released on Friday, July 3, voters supported the ban 57-35 percent.
They opposed same-sex marriage 60-33 percent but were in a virtual tie on same-sex civil unions, 46 percent for and 47 percent against.
The poll was taken from July 26 through Wednesday, July 1, with 1,259 voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.
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Poll: Voters support slots at tracks but want vote
Ohio voters overwhelming support putting video slot machines at Ohio racetracks but they want to have the final say on the issue, not the state legislature.
Those are results from a new Quinnipiac University Poll released on Friday, July 3, and they come as the debate over video slots continues to block agreement on a new state budget.
The poll found voters support putting slots at the tracks 65-31 percent. However, they said even louder, 84-13 percent, that they should decide the issue in a referendum and not leave it to the legislature.
Gov. Ted Strickland wants the legislature to authorize putting slots at the tracks without a vote of the people. Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, says voters should decide but that Strickland can do it on his own if he wants by expanding the Ohio Lottery. Voters four times since 1990 have rejected expanded gambling proposals.
The poll also found that voters support a proposed ballot issue to allow casinos in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Columbus. Also, voters by a 60-36 percent spread; support legalized gambling in general.
The poll was taken from July 26 through Wednesday, July 1, with 1,259 voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.
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Strickland approval drops sharply in new poll.
Gov. Ted Strickland looks politically vulnerable in a new Quinnipiac University poll released on Friday, July 3.
The poll showed that 46 percent of Ohio voters approved Strickland’s performance while 42 percent disapproved, down from 57-29 percent margin in a May 6 survey. This was the Democratic governor’s lowest approval rating since a 45-12 percent score on Feb. 1, 2007, just a month after he took office.
Voters disapproved Strickland’s handling of the state budget, 53-32 percent about the same as the 53-33 percent disapproval they gave him for handling the economy. Also, by a 40-34 percent margin they said Strickland had not kept his campaign promises.
The poll showed that former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, the Cedarville Republican, running neck-and-neck with Strickland in the 2010 governor’s race, with DeWine at 40 percent and Strickland at 41 percent.
DeWine, however, is expected to run for attorney general. Former U.S. Rep. John Kasich of suburban Columbus, the likely GOP candidate for governor next year, trails Strickland 43-38 percent, compared to 51-32 percent on May 6.
In GOP primary matchup, Kasich leads DeWine, 35-32 percent, a virtual tie but better for Kasich than the 35-23 percent lead DeWine had on May 6.
“The lousy economy and its impact on any politician’s ability to deliver the goods have taken their toll on governors throughout the nation and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is feeling the heat,” Peter Brown, assistant poll director, said in a press release.
“In addition, the squabbling over the state budget has taken its toll on Strickland’s image, and that of the legislature as well.”
While Strickland’s approval rating was down, he fared much better than the state legislature.
Voters disapproved of the legislature’s performance, 49-31 percent.
That’s less of a problem for individual legislators than it is for Strickland, however, said Brown. There’s only one governor and voters can take out their frustrations by voting against him or her.
However, while voters might be down on the legislature as a whole, they tend to look more favorably on the legislator representing them, Brown said.
The poll surveyed 1,259 Ohio voters from June 26 Wednesday, July 1 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.
