DaytonDailyNews.com

WASHINGTON — Ohio Republicans, still smarting from the last election, better not take the next one lightly, a poll released Wednesday, Dec. 10, suggests.

It shows U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, faces a tough battle for re-election in 2010, no matter who faces him. The Quinnipiac University Polling Institute found 36 percent of Ohio voters want to give him a third term. Thirty-five percent were ready to back an unnamed Democratic foe.

Chris Paulitz, a Voinovich spokesman, said he is too focused on auto jobs in Ohio to worry about polls.

If he looked, he'd find some good news. Voinovich is 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 Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Quinnipiac's poll came one day after 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, the survey found.

The Quinnipiac poll also found Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland's job approval rating has fallen to 54 percent, the lowest of the year, but the Democrat appears in strong shape for 2010.

Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner could face re-election problems, the poll shows. 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. The poll surveyed 1,468 voters Dec. 4-8 and has an error margin of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.