Governor’s race stays tight, final polls show

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Photo by: AP Photo/Jay LaPrete

Governor John Kasich

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Photo by: AP Photo/Jay LaPrete

Ohio Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland

By Marc Kovac

news@vindy.com

COLUMBUS

Two final polls of the campaign season put Democrat Gov. Ted Strickland and Republican challenger John Kasich in a dead heat heading into Election Day.

They also placed Republican Rob Portman solidly ahead of Democrat Lee Fisher in what one pollster called an “insurmountable lead.”

The Ohio Poll, conducted by the University of Cincinnati’s Institute for Policy Research, placed Kasich ahead of Strickland, 52 percent-47.7 percent, with a margin of error of 3.2 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, meanwhile, had Kasich up 47 percent-46 percent, with a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.

Quinnipiac also listed 6 percent of likely voters listed as undecided in the governor’s race, while 5 percent said they might change their mind.

“The governor’s race is a statistical tie,” Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac institute. “It could go either way. Gov. Ted Strickland has come from far back. The question is whether he can get over the hump. He has momentum on his side. John Kasich has the historical tendency of undecided voters to break against well-known incumbents at the very end of a campaign.”

In the race for outgoing U.S. Sen. George Voinovich’s seat, the Ohio Poll had Portman ahead of Fisher, 60 percent-39.2 percent. Quinnipiac put that race at 56 percent- 37 percent.

“The Senate race has never been close and looks more like what we often see with a popular incumbent seeking re-election rather than an open-seat contest,” Brown said.

Polls will be open today from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has projected a 52 percent turnout.

ELECTION DAY

Voting information

The polls in Ohio will be open today from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. In Pennsylvania, voters can cast ballots between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Here is what voters in the two states need when they vote today. In Ohio, a valid form of identification is needed to vote. That includes:

• A current and valid photo identification (such as an Ohio driver’s license, state ID card, government ID). Photo ID must show name and address, but it does not need to be current address for driver’s license or state ID card.
• A military identification. It does not need to show name or address.
• A copy of a current utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows the voter’s name and current address including documents from a public college or university.

In Pennsylvania, a valid form of ID is needed for first-time voters and for those voting in a new precinct. Any of the forms of identification accepted in Ohio can be used for Pennsylvania voters required to have ID.

Sources: Ohio Secretary of State, Pennsylvania Department of State