CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL

For release: September 28, 2010

6:30 PM EDT

THE STATE OF OHIO: Frustration, Pessimism and Job Worries

September 23-27, 2010

• Discontent with the direction in which their state is headed, disappointment with
President Obama and widespread concern about employment define the current mood
of those living in Ohio, a state that has been hard hit by job loss and the recession. 74%
are dissatisfied or angry with how things are going in Ohio, and seven in 10 say the state
is on the wrong track.

• The poll suggests some frustration with President Barack Obama. 58% say they are
disappointed with his presidency, and 48% say he has not brought much change to
Washington D.C., a major promise of his presidential campaign. More specifically,
majorities disapprove of his handling of the economy and job creation. Just 12% say his
economic policies have helped them.

• The primary concern in Ohio is jobs. Two thirds say the state has lost jobs, and a
majority thinks those jobs will never return to the state. 35% think the state is in a
permanent decline. For about three in 10 Ohioans, the recession has caused personal
financial challenges and job insecurity.

• Republicans in Ohio are more enthusiastic than Democrats about voting this year, and
are paying more attention to the campaigns.

Views of President Obama: Disappointment, Lack of Progress on Jobs

Most Ohio residents do not see the President as making progress on the issue that matters
most to them – the economy and jobs. 61% say President Obama has not made progress fixing
the economy, while 54% say he does not have a clear plan for creating jobs.

President Obama has…

Yes No
Made progress fixing the economy 32% 61
A clear plan for creating jobs 37% 54

And few see any personal gains from the President’s economic programs; 66% say his
programs have had no effect on them personally. 20% think they have been hurt by those
policies, while just 12% think they have been helped.

How Have Obama’s Economic Programs Affected You?

Total Reps Dems Inds
Helped 12% 2% 22% 10%
Hurt 20 33 9 20
No effect 66 65 67 67
Ohio residents are divided in their assessment of President Obama’s job performance – 43%
approve of how the President is handling his job overall and 47% disapprove. But they are more
negative in their assessments of how the President is handling the economy and jobs. 55% of
Ohioans disapprove of the way President Obama is handling the economy, and six in 10
disapprove of how he’s handling job creation.

Obama’s Approval Ratings

Overall The Economy Job Creation
Approve 43% 38% 34%
Disapprove 47 55 59

In 2008 President Obama won the Ohio vote and the presidency with a campaign that stressed
changing the way Washington worked, but Ohio residents are divided as to whether or not he
has accomplished this. 49% of Ohio residents think he has changed Washington at least
somewhat, but nearly as many – 48% - do not think he has changed Washington much or at all.

How Much Has Obama Changed Washington?

Total Reps Dems Inds
A lot 9% 9% 12% 8%
Some 40 24 60 35
Not much/not at all 48 66 25 55

And perhaps as a result, a majority of Ohioans – 58% - say they are at least somewhat
disappointed in the Obama presidency so far, including three in 10 who are very disappointed.
Fewer, 40%, say they are satisfied. Nearly two in three independents are disappointed.

Feelings about the Obama Presidency

Total Reps Dems Inds
Very satisfied 7% 1% 14% 4%
Somewhat satisfied 33 9 56 29
Somewhat disappointed 28 29 21 32
Very disappointed 30 61 7 31

People who are doing worse today than they were two years ago are especially critical of the
President. Just 35% of them approve of the job he is doing overall, and only a quarter approves
of how he is handling the economy or job creation. 68% say they are disappointed in his
presidency.

And while 52% of Ohioans think the President understands their needs and problems, 44%
think he does not. There is a clear partisan divide on this issue: eight in 10 Democrats think he
understands their needs and problems, while three in four Republicans do not.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

With an unemployment rate of just over 10%, jobs are the foremost problem facing the state,
and job insecurity is widespread. 70% of Ohioans volunteer it as the most important problem in
Ohio, far outdistancing any other problem mentioned.
 Most Important Problem in Ohio
Jobs 70%
Other economic issues 10
Education 4

Two in three Ohio residents say that the number of jobs in their community has decreased over
the last two years, and most think those jobs will never come back.

Over Last Two Years, Local Jobs Have:

Increased 6%
Decreased 65
Stayed the same 26

Local Jobs Lost Will…

Probably come back when economy improves 33%
Probably never come back 56

Job concern is personal in Ohio. Six in ten Ohioans are concerned that someone in their
household will lose their job in the next year, including 35% who are very concerned.

Concerned About Job Loss in Household

Very concerned 35%
Somewhat concerned 26
Not concerned 38

And expectations for the local job market in the next year are mixed. While half expect it to stay
the same, 27% think it will improve, and 21% think it will get worse.

The effects of the recession and job loss are reflected in Ohioans’ personal finances. While
50% say they have just enough to get by (and 20% have more than enough), three in 10 don’t
have enough to make ends meet.

Household Income is…

More than enough 20%
Just enough to make ends meet 50
Not enough to meet bills 29

26% say the recession has caused a hardship for them, and 43% say they are now doing worse
financially than they were two years ago.

Compared to Two Years Ago, Financial Situation is…

Better 15%
Worse 43
Same 41

In this recession-battered population, there is some optimism. 58% think that the recession in
Ohio is a temporary downturn and eventually the Ohio economy will fully recover. However,
35% thinks this is part of a long-term permanent decline and the Ohio economy will never fully
recover.
 Current Recession in Ohio is…
All Worse off now
Temporary downturn 58% 48%
Permanent decline 35 43

Those who are worse off today than they were two years ago are even more likely to respond
negatively when it comes to Ohio’s economic future. Among this group, 43% say the state is in
permanent decline, and 61% think the jobs Ohio has lost will probably never come back.

More than four in five Ohioans think Ohio’s economy is in bad shape, and a similar percentage
says the same about the national economy.

Rating the Economy…

In Ohio Nationally
Good 15% 15%
Bad 82 83

And three in four Ohioans are dissatisfied with how things are going in Ohio, including 17% who are
angry. Jobs and unemployment are the top reason given for their anger.

Feel about the Way Things are Going in Ohio?

Enthusiastic 3%
Satisfied 21
Dissatisfied 57
Angry 17

Seven in ten think Ohio is headed off on the wrong track; just 25% think their state is going in the right
direction.
Ohio: Right Direction or Wrong Track?
Right direction 25%
Wrong track 69

The President’s Economic Policies

Ohioans are mixed when it comes to the effect the stimulus package, passed in 2009, has had
on Ohio. 48% of Ohio residents say the stimulus package won’t create jobs, while about as
many, 46%, think it has already or expect it will eventually.

Impact of Stimulus Package on Jobs in Ohio

Already created jobs 8%
Hasn’t, but will create jobs 38
Won’t create jobs 48

Similarly, 48% say that the stimulus package has had no effect on the economy in Ohio
generally. 26% say it has made Ohio’s economy better, and 20% say it’s made it worse.

Impact of Stimulus Package on Ohio’s Economy

Better 26%
Worse 20
No impact 48
Ohioans are slightly more likely to view the government assistance provided to U.S. automakers
last year as beneficial to the state. 31% say that assistance has made Ohio’s economy better,
while 22% say it made things worse. 39% think it had no impact on Ohio’s economy.

But by two to one, Ohioans see a negative impact on their state as a result of the government
assistance provided to banks and financial institutions. Just 16% say that helped their state,
while 32% say it hurt. 44% say it has had no impact.

Ohio residents are divided when it comes to President Obama’s most recent attempt to shore
up the federal budget by letting the 2001 tax cuts to expire for couples and families earning
more than $250,000 a year: 47% think this is a good idea, while 43% think it is a bad one. In a
national poll conducted by CBS News and The New York Times earlier this month, 53% of
Americans said it was a good idea that the tax cuts expire for households earning $250,000.

Is Letting the 2001 Tax Cuts Expire for those Earning Over $250K…?
Ohio U.S. (CBS/NYT, 9/15)
A good idea 47% 53%
A bad idea 43 38

And the President receives little credit from Ohio residents for the biggest legislative
achievement of his first two years in office – the 2010 health care reform law. 51% of Ohio
residents disapprove of the health care overhaul passed this year, while just 37% approve.

The 2010 Health Care Law

Ohio U.S. (CBS/NYT, 9/15)
Approve 37% 37%
Disapprove 51 49

Furthermore, among Ohioans who disapprove, 86% think Congress should repeal the law, and
half think so even if it meant allowing insurance companies to refuse coverage to Americans
suffering from pre-existing medical conditions.

Congress and Discontent with Washington

Ohio voters, like the nation as a whole, express dissatisfaction with incumbents in Congress.
Just 29% of voters say their own member of Congress deserves re-election, while nearly half
say it is time to give someone new a chance.

Voters' Representative in Congress:

(Among registered voters)
Ohio U.S. (CBS/NYT, 9/15)
Deserves re-election 29% 34%
Time for someone new 49 55
Depends (vol.) 9 3
Don’t know 13 8

Only 16% of Ohioans approve of the job Congress is doing -- a lower approval rating than
Americans nationwide give Congress. Majorities of Ohioans also disapprove of the job both the
Democrats and Republicans in Congress are doing.
 Approval of Congress
Ohio U.S. (CBS/NYT, 9/15)
Approve Disapprove Approve Disapprove
Congress overall 16% 75 21% 70
Republicans in Congress 22% 66 20% 68
Democrats in Congress 28% 62 30% 58

Congressional leaders are not viewed especially favorably by Ohio voters either. Ohio voters
are divided in their opinions of John Boehner, the House Minority Leader, who represents
Ohio’s eighth Congressional district. 15% view Boehner favorably, while 16% have an
unfavorable view of him. A high percentage – 69% - are undecided or don’t know enough to
offer an opinion. Views of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are more negative. More than four in 10
voters in Ohio have an unfavorable opinion of her, while just 13% have a positive view. 43% of
Ohio voters are undecided or don’t know enough about her.

Opinion of Congressional Leaders

(among registered voters)
John Boehner Nancy Pelosi
Favorable 15% 13%
Unfavorable 16 44
Undecided 23 22
Haven’t heard enough 46 21

Just like the nation as a whole, Ohio voters express discontent with Washington. Three in four
are dissatisfied with the way things are going in Washington, including three in 10 who say they
are angry -- a higher proportion than among Americans nationwide (20%). Republicans and
independents are more likely than Democrats to be angry with Washington.

Feelings about Washington

Ohio U.S. (CBS/NYT, 9/15)
Enthusiastic 3% 1%
Satisfied 18 24
Dissatisfied 47 53
Angry 29 20

The 2010 Elections

41% of Ohio’s likely voters say they are more enthusiastic than usual about voting in this
election, and similar to the national electorate, enthusiasm is much greater among Republicans
-- 57% of whom say they are more enthusiastic about voting than usual. Just 26% of
Democrats feel more enthusiastic. This is a reversal from the 2006 midterm elections, when
Democrats in Ohio felt more enthusiastic.

More Enthusiastic About Voting

(Among likely voters)
2010 2006
All voters 41% 45%
Republicans 57% 32%
Democrats 26% 58%
Independents 40% 43%
There is additional evidence in this poll that independents and swing voters are not as engaged
as Republicans. Among those who say they usually split votes evenly between Republicans and
Democrats, a plurality are less enthusiastic about voting this year.

A majority of likely voters in Ohio are paying at least some attention to the midterm election
campaign, with more Republican voters than Democrats or independents paying a lot of
attention.

Attention to the Campaign

(Among likely voters)
All Reps Dems Inds
A lot 39% 43% 36% 37%
Some 40 41 40 40
Not much/none 21 16 24 23

If the midterm elections for the U.S. House of Representatives were held today, Republicans
would hold a lead among Ohio’s likely voters. 43% say they would vote for the Republican
candidate, while slightly fewer -- 39% -- would support the Democrat. Still, a sizable number –
16% - are undecided at this point.

2010 House Vote

(among likely voters)
Republican 43%
Democrat 39
Don’t know/depends 16

Each party retains most of their base: 89% of Republican voters say they would vote for the
Republican candidate in their district, and 83% of Democrats would support the Democrat.
Among the key swing group of independents, Republicans have an edge. 39% of independent
voters say they will back the Republican candidate, while 28% plan to vote for the Democrat.
However, 29% of independent voters are undecided at this point.

2010 House Vote

(among likely voters)
Reps Dems Inds
Republican 89% 5% 39%
Democrat 4 83 28
Don’t know/depends 6 12 29

Ohioans divide on which will matter to them more in their vote this year – national or state
issues. There are partisan differences here; Republicans are more likely to say national issues
will matter to them, while more Democrats choose state issues.

In spite of their skepticism about the accomplishments of the Obama administration so far, most
likely voters in Ohio do not see the president as much of a factor in their vote in the upcoming
midterm elections. Six in ten likely voters in Ohio say that their vote would not be affected if the
President supported a candidate in their area. Most Democrats and independents say it would
have no effect, while his support would have a negative effect on many Republicans.
 If Obama Supported a Candidate in Your Area, Would You be…?
(among likely voters)
Total Reps Dems Ind
More likely to vote for him/her 14% 4% 30% 7%
Less likely to vote for him/her 26 51 4 25
No effect 59 45 65 67

Both political parties are working to try and get voters to cast their ballots early. In this poll, 25%
of Ohio’s likely voters say they plan to vote absentee, before Election Day. 73% plan to vote at
the polls on November 2nd. In 2008, about a quarter of Ohio’s votes were cast before Election
Day, an increase from 2006.

How Do You Plan To Vote?

(among likely voters)
By mail/absentee 25%
In-person on Election Day 73

The Race for Governor

The Ohio Governor’s race is a key contest this year, with implications for the economy,
redistricting, and even the 2012 Presidential race.

In the race for Governor, Democratic incumbent Ted Strickland is battling to save his job.
Strickland leads Republican John Kasich among all voters, but Kasich leads by one point
among likely voters.

Ohio Governor’s Race

(Among voters)
All Likely voters
Republican John Kasich 39% 43%
Democrat Ted Strickland 44 42
Undecided/Don’t know 12 11

Kasich has an edge among independents likely to vote. Strickland gets strong – but not
unanimous – support from those who say they backed President Obama in 2008.

Ohio Governor’s Race

(Among likely voters)
All Reps Dems Inds Obama ’08 voters
Republican John Kasich 43% 79% 7% 44% 14%
Democrat Ted Strickland 42 12 79 33 74
Undecided/Don’t know 11 7 11 16 9

Governor Strickland has net unfavorable ratings, though many still don’t have an opinion of the
sitting governor. John Kasich is even less known.

Opinions of the Candidates

(Among registered voters)
Favorable Unfavorable Unsure/Don’t know
John Kasich 21% 25 53
Ted Strickland 31% 36 32
Governor Strickland also receives net disapproval for his job performance so far; 38% of Ohio
voters approve and 49% disapprove.

That may be because few voters think Strickland has made progress fixing Ohio’s economy.
Democrats are somewhat more forgiving, but even most of them think he has not made
progress.

Has Strickland Made Progress Fixing Economy?

(Among registered voters)
All Reps Dems Inds
Yes 21% 8% 39% 15%
No 68 87 51 71

While still low, Strickland gets slightly higher ratings than Kasich for his plans for jobs creation.

Does…Have a Plan to Create Jobs in Ohio?

(Among registered voters)
Yes No Don’t know
Strickland 29% 56 15
Kasich 23% 41 36

The Senate Race

In the Ohio Senate race, Republican Rob Portman has an edge over Democrat Lee Fisher.
However, both candidates remain little-known to many Ohio voters.

Among all voters, Portman is up by six points, but among likely voters he has an 11 point lead.
However, as might be expected five weeks out, one in five are still undecided.

Ohio Senate Race

(Among voters)
All Likely voters
Republican Rob Portman 41% 45%
Democrat Lee Fisher 35 34
Undecided 21 18

Although 34% of registered voters say they have been contacted by one or both of the
campaigns, both Senate candidates remain widely unknown to most voters: About 7 in ten have
no opinion of either Fisher or Portman. And many voters have no opinion or hold negative
views of both candidates on specific qualities.
 Does Portman or Fisher…?
(Among registered voters)
Portman Fisher
Understand your problems
Yes 27% 27%
No 30 35
Don’t know 43 38

Confidence in economic decisions

A lot of confidence 6% 6%
Some confidence 37 34
Not much/no confidence 32 39
Don’t know 25 21

________________________________________________________________________
This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,114 adults in Ohio, interviewed by telephone
September 23-27, 2010, including 973 registered voters, and 941 likely voters. Phone numbers were
dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to
sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The
error for subgroups is higher.

This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES OHIO POLL
The State of Ohio: Frustration, Pessimism, and Job Worries
September 23-27, 2010

q1 How much attention have you been able to pay to the 2010 election campaigns in Ohio
this year -- a lot, some, not much, or no attention so far?

** LIKELY VOTERS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind Oct06b*
% % % % %
A lot 39 43 36 37 39
Some 40 41 40 40 49
Not much 18 14 22 19 10
No attention 3 2 2 4 2
DK/NA 0 0 0 0 0
*2006 election

q2 How likely is it that you will vote in the 2010 election in November -- would you say
you will definitely vote, probably vote, probably not vote, or definitely not vote in the
election?

** REGISTERED VOTERS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind Oct06b*
% % % % %
Definitely vote 77 86 75 72 69
Probably vote 16 10 18 19 16
Probably not vote 5 2 5 7 7
Definitely not vote 1 1 0 1 7
Alread voted (Vol.) -- -- -- -- 1
DK/NA 1 1 2 1 0
*2006 election

q3 Is your opinion of Rob Portman favorable, not favorable, undecided or haven't you
heard enough about Rob Portman yet to have an opinion?

Favorable 17 31 4 18
Not favorable 9 2 18 6
Undecided 26 22 29 27
Haven't heard enough 46 43 48 47
Refused 2 2 1 2

q4 Is your opinion of Lee Fisher favorable, not favorable, undecided or haven't you heard
enough about Lee Fisher yet to have an opinion?

Favorable 13 4 25 7
Not favorable 17 30 7 17
Undecided 30 21 32 36
Haven't heard enough 38 44 35 38
Refused 2 1 1 2
q5 If the 2010 election for U.S. Senate were being held today, would you vote for Rob
Portman, the Republican candidate, OR for Lee Fisher, the Democratic candidate?

***** LIKELY VOTERS *****

*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind Reg. Vtrs
% % % % %
Portman 45 86 7 45 41
Fisher 34 4 72 25 35
Someone else/Neither/Other 2 1 1 4 2
Won't Vote (Vol) 1 1 0 1 1
Depends (Vol.) 9 4 9 13 9
DK/NA 9 4 11 13 12

q6 Is your opinion of John Kasich favorable, not favorable, undecided or haven't you
heard enough about John Kasich yet to have an opinion?

** REGISTERED VOTERS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Favorable 21 43 4 20
Not favorable 25 10 39 22
Undecided 26 27 27 26
Haven't heard enough 27 20 29 30
Refused 1 0 1 2

q7 Is your opinion of Ted Strickland favorable, not favorable, undecided or haven't you
heard enough about Ted Strickland yet to have an opinion?

Favorable 31 16 50 25
Not favorable 36 56 16 41
Undecided 23 19 25 25
Haven't heard enough 9 9 9 8
Refused 1 0 0 1

q8 If the 2010 election for Governor of Ohio were being held today, would you vote for
John Kasich, the Republican candidate, or Ted Strickland, the Democratic candidate?

** LIKELY VOTERS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind Reg. Voters
% % % % %
Kasich 43 79 7 44 39
Strickland 42 12 79 33 44
Someone else/Neither/Other 2 1 2 3 3
Won't Vote (Vol. 2 1 1 3 2
Depends (Vol.) 7 4 6 9 7
DK/NA 4 3 5 8 5
q9 If the 2010 election for U.S. House of Representatives were being held today, would
you vote for the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate in your district?

***** LIKELY VOTERS *****

*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind Reg. Vtrs Oct06b
% % % % % %
Republican 43 89 5 39 40 32
Democratic 39 4 83 28 40 50
Other (Vol.) 1 0 0 2 1 0
Won't vote (Vol.) 1 1 0 2 1 0
Depends (Vol.) 8 3 6 14 8 6
DK/NA 8 3 6 15 10 12

q10 Well as of today, do you lean more toward the Republican candidate or more toward the
Democratic Candidate?

* LIKELY VOTERS UNDECIDED IN HOUSE VOTE *

Republican 17 49 3 17
Democratic 28 10 53 21
Won't vote (Vol.) 1 0 0 1
DK/NA 54 41 44 61

q11 Compared to previous Congressional elections, this year are you more enthusiastic
about voting than usual, or less enthusiastic?

***** LIKELY VOTERS *****

More enthusiastic 41 57 26 40 45
Less enthusiastic 39 25 49 41 29
Same (vol.) 20 18 24 18 23
DK/NA 0 0 0 1 3

q12 Do you think the representative in Congress from your district has performed his or
her job well enough to deserve re-election, or do you think it's time to give a new
person a chance?

** REGISTERED VOTERS **
Deserves re-election 29 22 40 24
Time for new person 49 59 35 55
Depends (vol.) 9 9 8 10
DK/NA 13 10 17 11

q13 Regardless of how you intend to vote in November, which will matter to you more when
you vote -- your state's local issues or national issues?

State's local issues 43 35 48 44

National issues 40 46 35 39
Both (Vol.) 15 17 14 16
DK/NA 2 2 3 1

q14-15 BLANK

q16 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as
President?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Approve 43 12 73 36
Disapprove 47 84 17 48
DK/NA 10 4 10 16
q17 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Approve 38 10 67 31
Disapprove 55 88 27 57
DK/NA 7 2 6 12

q18 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling job creation?

Approve 34 12 60 26
Disapprove 59 84 31 65
DK/NA 7 4 9 9

q19 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?

Approve 16 9 26 11
Disapprove 75 86 64 77
DK/NA 9 5 10 12

q20 Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling
their job?

Approve 22 40 13 18
Disapprove 66 51 77 65
DK/NA 12 9 10 17

q21 Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their
job?

Approve 28 10 54 19
Disapprove 62 87 36 68
DK/NA 10 3 10 13

q22 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ted Strickland is handling his job as
Governor?

** REGISTERED VOTERS **
Approve 38 18 63 31
Disapprove 49 71 24 55
DK/NA 13 11 13 14

q23 Is your opinion of Nancy Pelosi favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you
heard enough about Nancy Pelosi yet to have an opinion?

Favorable 13 0 27 9
Not favorable 44 74 17 48
Undecided 22 13 30 21
Haven't heard enough 21 12 26 22
Refused 1 1 0 0
q24 Is your opinion of John Boehner favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you
heard enough about John Boehner yet to have an opinion?

** REGISTERED VOTERS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Favorable 15 34 1 14
Not favorable 16 2 27 16
Undecided 23 24 23 23
Haven't heard enough 46 40 48 47
Refused 0 0 1 0

q25 Do you feel things in OHIO are generally going in the right direction or do you feel
things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ** Oct06b

% % % % %
Right direction 25 15 33 23 23
Wrong track 69 81 58 70 71
DK/NA 6 4 9 7 6

q26 What do you think is the most important problem facing Ohio today?

Jobs and Unemployment 70 72 74 66

Economy/economic issues 10 11 7 12
Education 4 3 6 3
Other 13 13 11 14
DK/NA 3 1 2 5

q27 BLANK

q28 Which comes closest to your feelings about the way things are going in OHIO —
enthusiastic, satisfied but not enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry?

Enthusiastic 3 2 5 2
Satisfied, not enthusiastic 21 13 27 22
Dissatisfied but not angry 57 64 55 54
Angry 17 19 11 20
DK/NA 2 2 2 2

q29 Thinking about the way things are going in Ohio, what are you most angry about?

* THOSE ANGRY ABOUT THINGS IN OHIO *

Unemployment/economy 70 69 66 72
Nothing for voters 5 4 7 5
Gov't spending 3 1 6 2
Taxes 3 6 1 3
Partisan politics 2 3 0 2
Everything 2 1 5 1
Other 14 15 15 14
DK/NA 1 1 0 1
q30 Which comes closest to your feelings about the way things are going in Washington —
enthusiastic, satisfied but not enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Enthusiastic 3 0 7 2
Satisfied, not enthusiastic 18 9 27 15
Dissatisfied but not angry 47 44 46 49
Angry 29 46 14 30
DK/NA 3 1 6 4

q31 How would you rate the condition of the national economy these days? Is it very good,
fairly good, fairly bad or very bad?

Oct06b
%
Very good 1 0 2 0 7
Fairly good 14 6 24 12 42
Fairly bad 43 39 44 45 32
Very bad 40 55 30 40 18
DK/NA 2 0 0 3 1

q32 How would you rate the condition of the economy in OHIO these days? Is it very good,
fairly good, fairly bad or very bad?

Oct06b
Very good 0 1 1 0 3
Fairly good 15 9 21 14 31
Fairly bad 42 47 39 43 37
Very bad 40 42 38 41 28
DK/NA 3 1 1 2 1

q33 Which comes closer to your view? The current recession is a temporary downturn and
eventually the Ohio economy will fully recover. The current recession is part of a long-
term permanent decline and the Ohio economy will never fully recover.

Temporary downturn 58 55 66 54
Permanent and won't recover 35 38 28 37
Don't know/No answer 7 7 6 9

q34 Who do you think is mostly to blame for the current state of the nation's economy —
1. the Bush administration, 2. the Obama administration, 3. Wall Street and financial
institutions, 4. Congress, or 5. someone else?

Bush administration 28 6 50 22
Obama administration 9 20 3 7
Wall Street and financial 20 22 19 21
Congress 12 19 4 14
Someone else 7 8 6 7
All of the above (vol.) 10 12 4 13
Combination (vol.) 12 10 13 13
DK/NA 2 3 1 3

q35-36 BLANK
q37 Do you think of your vote for U.S. Senator this fall as a vote for Barack Obama, a
vote against Barack Obama, or don’t you think of your vote this fall as being about
Barack Obama’s presidency?

** REGISTERED VOTERS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Support of Obama 22 5 40 17
Against Obama 24 51 8 20
Not about Obama 48 42 43 57
DK/NA 6 2 9 6

q38 BLANK

q39 Regardless of how you intend to vote, would you prefer that the Democrats keep
control of the House of Representatives, that the Republicans win control of the House of
Representatives, or does it not matter to you one way or the other?

Prefer Democrats 33 3 70 20
Prefer Republicans 35 82 2 32
Doesn't matter 28 13 24 43
DK/NA 4 2 4 5

q40 Do you think Barack Obama understands the needs and problems of people like yourself,
or not?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Understands 52 21 81 47
Does not 44 75 16 49
DK/NA 4 4 3 4

q41 BLANK

q42 Since he took office, has Barack Obama made real progress in fixing the economy or
hasn’t he made real progress in fixing the economy?

Made real progress 32 8 56 27

Hasn't made real progress 61 89 35 66
DK/NA 7 3 9 7

q43 Do you think Barack Obama does or does not have a clear plan for creating jobs?

Does 37 15 60 33
Does not 54 81 29 59
DK/NA 9 4 11 8
q44 So far, have Barack Obama's economic programs helped you personally, hurt you
personally, or have they not had much of an effect on you personally so far?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Helped 12 2 22 10
Hurt 20 33 9 20
No effect 66 65 67 67
Don't know/No answer 2 0 2 3

q45 How much progress do you think Barack Obama has made in changing the way things are
done in Washington – a lot, some, not much, or none at all?

A lot 9 9 12 8
Some 40 24 60 35
Not much 25 29 18 28
None at all 23 37 7 27
DK/NA 3 1 3 2

q46 In general which comes closest to your feelings about the Obama presidency so far ---
Would you say you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat disappointed or very
disappointed?

Very satisfied 7 1 14 4
Somewhat satisfied 33 9 56 29
Somewhat disappointed 28 29 21 32
Very disappointed 30 61 7 31
Both (vol.) 1 0 2 2
DK/NA 1 0 0 2

q47-48 BLANK

q49 Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the Republican Party or the
Democratic Party is more concerned with the needs and problems of people like yourself?

** REGISTERED VOTERS **
Republican party 33 74 5 30
Democratic party 41 7 77 34
Both (vol.) 2 2 1 3
Neither (vol.) 17 14 10 25
DK/NA 7 3 7 8

q50 BLANK
q51 Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the Republican party or the
Democratic party is more likely to create new jobs?

** REGISTERED VOTERS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind Oct06b
% % % % %
Republican 41 80 11 39 27
Democratic 38 7 75 27 54
Both (Vol.) 2 1 1 2 3
Neither (Vol.) 11 7 7 19 6
DK/NA 8 5 6 13 10

q52 If Barack Obama supported a candidate for political office in your area, would that
make you more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely to vote for that candidate,
or wouldn't it affect how you voted one way or another?

** LIKELY VOTERS **
More likely 14 4 30 7
Less likely 26 51 4 25
Wouldn't affect vote 59 45 65 67
DK/NA 1 0 1 1

q53 BLANK

q54 Since he took office, has Ted Strickland made real progress in fixing Ohio’s economy,
or hasn’t he made real progress in fixing Ohio’s economy?

** REGISTERED VOTERS **
Made real progress 21 8 39 15
Hasn't made real progress 68 87 51 71
DK/NA 11 5 10 14

q55 Do you think Ted Strickland does or does not have a clear plan for creating jobs in
Ohio?

Does 29 13 47 24
Does not 56 76 35 60
DK/NA 15 11 18 16

q56 Do you think John Kasich does or does not have a clear plan for creating jobs in
Ohio?

Does 23 43 9 22
Does not 41 22 57 39
DK/NA 36 35 34 39

q57 Do you think Rob Portman understands the needs and problems of people like yourself,
or not?

Understands 27 46 16 22
Does not 30 16 42 29
DK/NA 43 38 42 49

q58 Do you think Lee Fisher understands the needs and problems of people like yourself,
or not?

Understands 27 15 46 18
Does not 35 51 23 36
DK/NA 38 34 31 46
q59 How much confidence do you have that Rob Portman will make the right decisions about
Ohio’s economy — a lot, some, not much or none at all?

** REGISTERED VOTERS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
A lot 6 15 2 5
Some 37 46 28 40
Not much 20 10 28 20
None 12 5 20 9
DK/NA 25 24 22 26

q60 How much confidence do you have that Lee Fisher will make the right decisions about
Ohio’s economy — a lot, some, not much or none at all?

A lot 6 1 14 2
Some 34 22 42 36
Not much 23 32 18 22
None 16 24 8 17
DK/NA 21 21 18 23

q61 BLANK

q62 Have you been contacted on behalf of any of the Senate candidates -- whether it was
by a letter in the mail, by telephone, or in person by a campaign worker?

Oct06b
%
Yes 34 37 36 31 41
No 64 61 63 67 58
DK/NA 2 2 1 2 1

q63 Which campaign contacted you -- Rob Portman's or Lee Fisher's?

Portman's 24 43 13 21
Fisher's 24 11 40 19
Both (vol.) 29 28 25 34
DK/NA 23 18 22 26

q64 BLANK

q65 Have you been contacted on behalf of any of the candidates for governor -- whether it
was by a letter in the mail, by telephone, or in person by a campaign worker?

Yes 28 28 35 22
No 69 69 62 76
DK/NA 3 3 3 2
q66 Which campaign contacted you -- Rob Portman's or Lee Fisher's?

** REGISTERED VOTERS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Kasich's 20 46 8 15
Strickland's 40 15 61 32
Both (vol.) 32 36 22 43
DK/NA 8 3 9 10

q67 BLANK

q68 The Obama administration has proposed letting the tax cuts passed in 2001 expire for
households earning about $250,000 a year or more. This would increase federal income
taxes for those people. Do you think this proposal is a good idea or a bad idea?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Good idea 47 22 68 45
Bad idea 43 68 23 44
DK/NA 10 10 9 11

q69 From what you've heard or read, do you approve or disapprove of the health care law
that was enacted last March? IF APPROVE, ASK: Do you strongly approve or somewhat
approve? IF DISAPPROVE, ASK: Do you somewhat disapprove or strongly disapprove?

Strongly approve 18 4 35 12
Somewhat approve 19 9 27 17
Somewhat disapprove 13 16 11 13
Strongly disapprove 38 64 11 44
DK/NA 12 7 16 14

q70 Do you think Congress should repeal the health care law that was passed in March, or
should they let it stand?

* THOSE WHO DISAPPROVE OF HEALTH CARE LAW **

Repeal law 86 93 70 84
Let stand 9 3 22 9
DK/NA 5 4 8 7

q71 What if repealing the law meant that insurance companies were no longer required to
cover people with existing medical conditions or prior illnesses, then do you think the
law should be repealed, or not?

* THOSE WHO WANT HEALTH CARE LAW REPEALED **

Should be repealed 57 59 49 57
Should not 33 32 45 32
DK/NA 10 9 6 11
q72 Some people say trade restrictions are necessary to protect domestic industries.
Other people say free trade must be allowed because it helps the overall economy even if
domestic industries are hurt. Would you be more likely to support a candidate who favors
trade restrictions or a candidate who favors free trade, or would a candidate's position
on trade not make much difference to your vote?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Trade restrictions 42 37 48 39
Free trade 20 24 13 22
No difference 31 32 33 29
Don't know/No answer 7 7 6 10

q73 Overall, would you say U.S. trade with other countries creates more jobs for the
U.S., loses more jobs for the U.S., or does U.S. trade with other countries have no
effect on U.S. jobs?

Oct06b
%
Creates jobs 20 25 16 20 18
Loses jobs 64 61 68 62 66
No effect 8 8 6 10 9
Don't know/No answer 8 6 10 8 7

q74 So far, do you think the government's stimulus package has made the economy in Ohio
better, made the economy in Ohio worse, or has it had no impact on the economy in Ohio so
far?

Better 26 11 41 22
Worse 20 28 12 23
No impact 48 57 42 48
DK/NA 6 4 5 7

q75 From what you know so far, which comes closest to your own view? 1. the economic
stimulus package has already created a substantial number of new jobs in Ohio OR 2. it
will create a substantial number of new jobs but hasn't done that yet OR 3. it will not
create a substantial number of new jobs?

Has already created jobs 8 1 16 6

Will create jobs 38 23 53 34
Will never create new jobs 48 72 26 52
DK/NA 6 4 5 8

q76 In the last two years, has the number of jobs in your community increased, decreased,
or stayed about the same?

Increased 6 1 12 5
Decreased 65 74 53 69
Stayed about the same 26 22 34 21
Don't know/No answer 3 3 1 5

q77 Over the next year, do you think the job market in your area will get better, get
worse, or stay about the same?

Better 27 18 43 20
Worse 21 23 13 25
Same 49 55 43 51
DK/NA 3 4 1 4
q78 In your own community, just from what you've seen or heard, do you think the jobs
that your community has lost in this recession will probably come back when the economy
improves, or do you think they were jobs that will probably never come back?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Jobs will come back 33 32 37 29
Jobs will never come back 56 58 51 58
Some will come back (vol.) 8 9 7 8
DK/NA 3 1 5 5

q79 So far, do you think the financial assistance that the government provided to the
auto industry has made Ohio’s economy better, made Ohio’s economy worse, or has it had no
impact on Ohio’s economy?

Better 31 21 43 27
Worse 22 28 15 23
No impact 39 42 34 40
DK/NA 8 9 8 10

q80 So far, do you think the financial assistance that the government provided to the
banking and financial industry has made Ohio’s economy better, made Ohio’s economy worse,
or has it had no impact on Ohio’s economy?

Better 16 10 24 12
Worse 32 39 23 35
No impact 44 45 45 43
DK/NA 8 6 8 10

q81 BLANK

q82 Think about your household income, would say that it is more than enough so that you
can save and buy some extras, just enough to meet your bills and obligations, or it is
not enough to meet your bills and obligations?

Oct06b
%
More than enough 20 25 19 19 30
Just enough 50 54 47 49 50
Not enough 29 20 34 30 19
DK/NA 1 1 0 2 1

q83 Do you think your household's financial situation is getting better, getting worse or
staying about the same?

Getting better 11 11 13 10
Getting worse 30 33 26 32
Same 58 55 61 56
DK/NA 1 1 0 2

q84 Compared to two years ago, is your family's financial situation better today, worse
today, or about the same?

Better 15 13 15 15
Worse 43 43 41 46
About the same 41 44 44 38
DK/NA 1 0 0 1
q85 And what is your best guess about your family's financial situation two years from
now? Generally if things go pretty much as you now expect, do you think your family's
financial situation will be better, worse, or about the same as it is today?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Better 35 27 42 33
Worse 19 24 12 21
Same 43 46 44 41
Don't know/No answer 3 3 2 5

q86 Which best describes the way you and your family have been affected by the recession?
1) The recession has been a hardship and caused major life changes, or 2) The recession
has been difficult but not caused any major life changes, or 3) The recession has not had
much affect one way or the other.

Hardship 26 26 28 25
Difficult 46 46 44 47
Not much affect 27 28 28 27
Positive effect (vol.) 0 0 0 0
DK/NA 1 0 0 1

q87 How concerned are you that in the next 12 months you or someone else in your
household might be out of work and looking for a job — very concerned, somewhat
concerned, or not concerned at all?

Very concerned 35 27 36 38
Somewhat concerned 26 30 21 28
Not at all concerned 38 43 42 33
DK/NA 1 0 1 1

q88 Are you currently employed - either full-time or part-time — or are you temporarily
out of work, or are you not in the market for work at all?
IF NOT IN MARKET FOR WORK, ASK: Are you currently retired, or not?

Currently employed 55 63 47 57
Temporarily out of work 12 6 15 14
Not in the market for work 12 13 12 12
Retired 20 18 26 16
DK/NA 1 0 0 1

q89 In the last twelve months, has any adult in your household been out of work and
actively looking for work?

Oct06b
%
Yes 37 26 36 44 28
No 63 74 64 56 72
DK/NA 0 0 0 0 0
q90 In the last twelve months, has any adult in your household received unemployment
benefits from the government? IF YES, Is that person still receiving unemployment
benefits?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
Currently receiving benefits 7 5 9 7
Did receive benefits 10 8 12 10
Did not receive benefits 82 87 79 81
DK/NA 1 0 0 2

q91 BLANK

q92 If you were asked to use one of these five names for your social class, which would
you say you belong in upper class, upper-middle class, middle class, working class, or
lower class?

Upper 1 1 0 1
Upper-middle 7 10 5 6
Middle 37 47 32 35
Working 37 29 41 38
Lower 18 13 22 18
DK/NA 0 0 0 2

q93 Do you ever feel as if you're at risk of falling out of your current social class?

Yes 42 40 41 43
No 56 58 56 54
DK/NA 2 2 3 3

q94 Are you or any other members of your household -- that is any other adult living in
your home or apartment -- a member of a labor union? IF YES ASK: Is that person you or
someone else?

Yes, respondent 10 8 12 9
Yes, someone else 8 4 14 6
Yes, respondent and someone 1 2 1 1
No 80 85 73 83
DK/NA 1 1 0 1

q95 Do you have any children?

IF YES, ASK: Are any of your children under 18?

Yes, under 18 33 34 29 36
Yes, over 18 37 40 42 31
No 30 26 29 33
q96 Think about past elections in which you have voted, including national and statewide
elections. Would you say you always vote Republican, usually vote Republican, vote about
equally for both parties, usually vote Democratic, or always vote Democratic?

***** LIKELY VOTERS *****

*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Always vote of Republicans 6 18 1 1
Usually vote for Republicans 27 64 2 18
Split vote evenly 30 17 16 56
Usually vote for Democrats 23 1 52 15
Always vote for Democrats 10 0 29 1
Never vote (Vol.) 0 1 0 0
DK/NA 4 0 0 9

q97 If you do vote in the November 2nd election, will you vote by mail or by turning in
an absentee ballot, OR will you vote at your precinct polling place on Election Day?

Mail/absentee 25 26 29 19
Precinct voter 73 73 69 78
Won't vote (vol.) 1 1 1 1
DK/NA 1 0 1 2

q100 Do you consider yourself to be a supporter of Tea Party movement, or not?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Yes 22 47 4 22
No 68 45 86 67
DK/NA 10 8 10 11

Sample sizes:

UNWEIGHTED WEIGHTED
Total Respondents 1114
Total registered voters 973 918
Total likely voters 941
Effective likely voters 408

Total Republicans 315 279 (28%)

Total Democrats 367 373 (33%)
Total Independents 432 462 (39%)

Registered Republicans 296 254 (28%)

Registered Democrats 326 319 (35%)
Registered Independents 351 345 (37%)