Latest poll: Strickland opens lead on Blackwell

U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, a Democrat from Lisbon, has widened his lead over potential Republican opponents in the Ohio governor's race, according to the latest independent poll.

Strickland leads Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell of Cincinnati, 47 percent to 35 percent, according to Rasmussen Reports.

The results released Sunday indicate a gain of 8 percentage points for Strickland over Blackwell since Rasmussen's last matchup released in January.

Strickland also leads Attorney General Jim Petro 44 percent to 37 percent, according to the monthly poll. That marks a slight gain since the previous Rasmussen poll.

Ohio Auditor Betty Montgomery was the weakest candidate in the poll, but has since pulled out of the governor's race.

In a separate poll, U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, a Republican, has opened a 9 percentage point lead over U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, leading 46 percent to 37 percent in the Senate campaign, according to Rasmussen.

A month ago, DeWine led Brown by five percentage points.

Rasmussen said Gov. Bob Taft "remains a drag on his party with a job approval rating of just 16 percent."

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