New poll: Portman extends lead over Strickland in Senate race

COLUMBUS — Incumbent Republican Sen. Rob Portman has expanded his lead over Democratic challenger Ted Strickland among Ohio voters questioned by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

The Connecticut-based group’s latest poll, released today, had Portman on top, 49 percent-40 percent, over the former governor. That was an increase from 47 percent-40 percent last month. Portman and Strickland were essentially tied in several earlier polls, though Strickland was ahead, 48 percent-39 percent, in Quinnipiac’s early polling of the race in April 2015.

Portman also fared better than incumbent Republican senators in two other swing states that were part of today’s survey.