FitzGerald campaigns down to wire; new poll gives Kasich overwhelming lead

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The line to vote at the Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) County board of elections in Cleveland snaked out the front door Sunday afternoon but was far shorter than 2012 when people waited hours to cast ballots two days before the election.

Black churches organized a "souls to the poll" campaign around Ohio to encourage people to vote after Sunday services. One woman said she could have voted Tuesday but preferred to cast a ballot with her fellow congregants. Democratic governor candidate Ed FitzGerald stopped briefly at one of the churches and said he was working hard in the final hours to encourage turnout.

Meanwhile, a new Columbus Dispatch poll indicates Republican incumbent Gov. John Kasich (KAY'-sik) has a commanding lead against Fitzgerald, with the treasurer's race the closest statewide race.

In a statewide poll of more than 1,000 likely voters statewide, the poll found 62 percent of respondents supporting Kasich compared with 34 percent for FitzGerald.

The poll also showed large leads by Republican races in all state executive office races except for state treasurer, in which Democrat Connie Pillich trailed incumbent Republican Josh Mandel by only 6 points.