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Promise of jobs fueling support for casinos

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By William Hershey  and Laura A. Bischoff, Staff Writers Updated 3:00 PM Sunday, September 27, 2009

COLUMBUS — They’ve said “no” four times since 1990, but this year, driven by a promise of new jobs to combat a slumping economy, Ohio voters may be ready to approve casino gambling.

A Dayton Daily News/Ohio Newspaper Poll released today, Sept. 27, found 59 percent of registered voters across the state support Issue 3, against 38 percent who said they would vote “no” on Nov. 3.

The poll found the strongest support in southwest Ohio (70-29 percent) and the weakest in the northwest, where voters were almost evenly split on the issue.

The proposed constitutional amendment would permit casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo.

Sixty-seven percent of those identifying themselves as Democrats said they support the casino issue versus 27 percent who are opposed. Among Republicans the split was 55 percent to 44 percent in favor, while independents appear to be lining up against it, 58 percent to 42 percent.

Overall, 56 percent of those who said they will “definitely vote” on Nov. 3 are backing the amendment, according to the poll.

While a majority of the state’s voters support the measure now, early leads for past gambling proposals have vanished by Election Day as opponents successfully created doubts about specifics of the plans, said Eric Rademacher, who conducted the poll.

One difference this year is the economy, said Rademacher, co-director of the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. Ohio’s August unemployment rate was 10.8 percent, more than 3 points higher than last November, when voters rejected a casino proposed for near Wilmington.

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