New poll: Incumbent Strickland behind challenger Kasich

COLUMBUS — Gov. Ted Strickland is trailing his Republican challenger by 17 percentage points, according to a new survey of likely voters.

The Quinnipiac University Polling Institute put John Kasich ahead of the state's top Democrat by a margin of 54 percent-37 percent. And 85 percent of those polled said they have their minds made up and won't be switching candidates before election day.

"Ohio is not an island," Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the polling institute, said in a released statement.

"Clearly, Kasich is benefiting from the national anti-incumbent, anti-Democratic wave, which seems to be sweeping the country. Ohio, which is the most important swing state in the country come presidential elections, is also a good marker for the off-year balloting.

For the complete story, see Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com