Poll: Strickland leading all candidates for Gov.

A poll released Saturday found U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, a Democrat from Lisbon, leading all three major Republican Party candidates in the race to become Ohio's next governor.
The survey by Rasmussen Reports (www.RasmussenReports.com), in which 500 likely voters were called Jan. 3, found Strickland ahead of Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, a Republican from Cincinnati, 44 percent to 40 percent.
Strickland led Attorney General Jim Petro, 43 percent to 38 percent. Strickland also led Ohio State Auditor Betty D. Montgomery, 49 percent to 33 percent. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
Strickland was viewed favorably by 54 percent of respondents, higher than any of the Republicans, according to the survey. Blackwell was favored by 49 percent, Petro by 48 percent and Montgomery by 45 percent.
However, more respondents had a "very favorable" impression of Blackwell, at 21 percent. Strickland received that rating from 17 percent of the respondents, Montgomery from 15 percent and Petro from 13 percent.
Blackwell also enjoyed greater support from evangelical Christians than either of his Republican Party primary opponents (61 percent to Petro's 53 percent and Montgomery's 43 percent) and among Bush supporters.
At least 12 percent of the respondents said they were not sure who to vote for in each general election matchup. More than 5 percent said they'd prefer another candidate.
For details, go to: http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/January%202006/Ohio%20Governor%20January%204.htm