Kasich still outpacing FitzGerald in latest Quinnipiac poll

COLUMBUS

Gov. John Kasich continues to outpace Democratic challenger Ed FitzGerald among Ohio voters, with half of those surveyed recently by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute saying the Republican incumbent deserves another term.

Most also remain focused on public-employee collective bargaining, recalling the ugly Senate Bill 5 debate of Kasich’s first year, but many of those same voters say it won’t affect their ballot selection Nov. 4.

“Four out of five voters say Kasich’s largest embarrassment as governor — the SB 5 fiasco — is important to their vote,” Peter Brown, assistant director of the polling institute, said. “Many voters say the fight over collective bargaining makes them less likely to vote for Kasich, but a plurality says it won’t affect their choice.”

Connecticut-based Quinnipiac regularly gauges Ohioans’ opinions on candidates and issues.

It polled 1,366 voters over the past week on their opinions of Kasich and FitzGerald.

Sixty-five percent of those questioned said they still don’t know enough about FitzGerald to form an opinion about him.

The poll was conducted as FitzGerald hit the airwaves with his first television ads.

Backers remain confident in their candidate.

“Gov. Kasich’s record of giving tax breaks to the most well off and paying for them by raising taxes on the middle class hasn’t worked for everyday Ohioans,” Lauren Hitt, FitzGerald’s campaign spokeswoman, said.

Read more about the race in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.