New polling shows Strickland leads Blackwell by 13 points

New Independent Poll Shows Strickland Leads Blackwell by 13 Points

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio gubernatorial candidate Congressman Ted Strickland holds a thirteen-point lead over Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, according to a new independent Rasmussen Reports poll released today.

The new survey’s results showing Strickland with a thirteen-point lead over Blackwell, 50% to 37%, are consistent with other recent polls. The results are similar to the recent SurveyUSA Poll – commissioned by several Ohio news organizations and released June 13 – which showed Strickland with a similar advantage (53% to 37%). Other recent statewide polls have indicated Strickland’s level of support has remained consistent since the start of the general election at around 50%.

“Strickland has improved his support throughout the year; he’s been at 50% or above in every survey since March. Blackwell has attracted as many as 40% in individual polls, but the gauge has fluttered around 37%-38% in each of our three-poll rolling averages,” Rasmussen Reports stated in a press release today.

Today’s survey indicates that Blackwell is viewed unfavorably by 45% of likely voters – higher than his net favorable rating of 44%.

Strickland is viewed favorably by 53% of likely voters while his net unfavorable rating is 32%, according to the poll.

“Ohio voters continue to see right through Ken Blackwell’s divisive politics and negativity,” said Strickland for Governor Communications Director Jess Goode. “The more Ohio voters learn about Ted Strickland’s vision, the more they recognize his ability to bring Ohioans together in common purpose. The more they hear from Ken Blackwell, the less they trust his ability to govern effectively.”

Rasmussen Reports is an independent public opinion polling and research firm that will be polling every U.S. Senate and Governors’ race once per month throughout the year. Today’s published survey of 500 likely voters was conducted on June 20, 2006.

According to the website, Rasmussen Reports was the nation’s only polling organization “to project both Bush and Kerry’s vote total within half a percentage point of the actual outcome” during the Presidential election.

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