Republican Bob Taft holds a significant lead in the Ohio governor's race, according to the latest independent poll.
It shows Mr. Taft with an eight-point lead over Democrat Lee Fisher. A poll released last month by the same sponsor showed Mr. Taft with a nine-point lead.
The survey of likely voters, released by the Ohio News Network, found that 48 percent of those surveyed supported Mr. Taft; 40 percent favored Mr. Fisher; 2 percent supported Reform Party candidate John Mitchel; and 10 percent were undecided. Natural Law Party candidate Zanna Feitler was not included among the choices.
The survey showed Mr. Taft leading in all regions of the state, including Cleveland (Mr. Fisher's home) and Youngstown. Those are two areas that traditionally support Democrats. Mr. Taft had a six-point edge in Greater Cincinnati, which is his home area. Mr. Fisher has a slight edge with female voters, while men prefer Mr. Taft by a wide margin, the survey showed.
The telephone poll was conducted Friday through Monday by Mason-Dixon Political - Media Research Inc. of Columbia, Md. It included 806 registered voters statewide who said they likely would vote Nov. 3. It had a margin or error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Help from Blackwell
As if he doesn't have enough to do running for Ohio secretary of state, Ken Blackwell is lending a hand to State Sen. Janet Howard's re-election campaign.
Mr. Blackwell, now Ohio treasurer and a former Cincinnati mayor and councilman, is featured in a television ad for the Howard campaign that is running on Cincinnati TV stations. It was paid for by the Republican Senate Campaign Committee.
Both Republicans are locked in tough battles. Mr. Blackwell is running for secretary of state against state Rep. Charleta Taveras, D-Columbus. Mrs. Howard faces state Rep. Mark Mallory, D-Cincinnati, for the 9th Ohio Senate District seat she won four years ago.
Mr. Blackwell also did a TV commercial for Mrs. Howard in that race, as did Ohio Gov. George Voinovich.
The Campaign Notebook is compiled by staff of The Cincinnati Enquirer and runs Tuesday-Saturday.
