Poll finds Fisher leads Brunner, tied with Portman

COLUMBUS - A poll released yesterday suggests Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher would win the battle for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in May, but he remains locked in a statistical dead heat with Republican Rob Portman for the November general election.

The Connecticut-based Quinnipiac University poll of 1,662 Ohio voters conducted in mid-February shows Mr. Portman, a former Cincinnati-area congressman and White House budget director, leading in hypothetical matchups with the two leading Democratic contenders, Mr. Fisher and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

"Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher has put some distance between himself and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, but 48 percent of Democrats are undecided about who to support in the May 4 primary," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

The poll notes that voters hold unfavorable opinions of both the Democratic and Republican parties, but appear to be warming to the conservative Tea Party movement.

Fifty percent disapprove of Democrats compared to 38 percent who approve. Republicans have a 46 percent unfavorable rating compared to a 37 percent favorable score.

While many voters are undecided on the Tea Party movement, it has a favorable score of 32 percent compared to a disapproval rating of 23 percent.

Among the poll's findings:

•Mr. Fisher leads Ms. Brunner in the contest for the Democratic nomination 29 percent to 20 percent.

•Mr. Portman, who faces no primary election opposition, leads Mr. Fisher in a hypothetical matchup for Nov. 2, holding 40 percent of voter support compared to Mr. Fisher's 37 percent. The results, however, are within the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.

•Mr. Portman leads Ms. Brunner in a hypothetical general election contest 40 percent to 35 percent with 23 percent undecided.

"No one who is struggling to make ends meet cares about a poll," Fisher campaign spokesman John Collins said. "That's why Lee is focused on creating good-paying jobs and rebuilding Ohio's middle class."

Ms. Brunner, whose campaign coffers are nearly empty compared to Mr. Fisher's, said she read the poll as an indication that voters are "fed up."

"I found it interesting that the Tea Party is attractive even to Democrats, which is an indication that the voters want a new kind of politics," she said.

"So between now and the election, my campaign will demonstrate a new kind of politics that is fueled by people and not by special- interest money."

Portman campaign spokesman Jessica Towhey said it does not discuss poll results.

"Our focus is on continuing our campaign of traveling throughout Ohio talking to small-business owners and Ohioans about creating a new environment for job creation," she said.

The data do not reflect any impact that two last-minute entries could have on the Democratic primary on May 4.

Traci (T.J.) Johnson, a Toledo native living near Columbus, and Charlena Renee Bradley of Lyndhurst have joined the race.

The Libertarian, Constitution, and Socialist parties, meanwhile, are offering Steven R. Linnabary, Eric W. Deaton, and Daniel H. LaBotz, respectively.

Contact Jim Provance at:

jprovance@theblade.com

or 614-221-0496.

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A poll released Wednesday suggests Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher would win the battle for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in May, but he remains locked in a statistical dead heat with Republican Rob Portman for the November general election.