Final Polls: Romney Poised For Victory

Many in the media, and several slanted pollsters would have you believe that Obama is ahead and has maintained that lead here in Ohio.  And why question them, when the top line of many polls show Obama with a slight advantage (even if it is within the poll's margin of error):

But if you look at the actual data coming out of Ohio, this thing isn't even close.  As Nick pointed out yesterday, Romney has completely erased Obama's 2008 lead, just in the early voting numbers.

Given the discrepancies between the polls and what's actually happening on the ground here in Ohio, I took a look at all the numbers from every poll in the last two weeks, and not only took the data they were putting out, but measured it against the high-water marks for both parties in the past decade.  The results might surprise you:

Has Mitt Romney already won Ohio?

We've previously talked about the early vote game in Ohio and how the early numbers looked good for Republicans and not so good for Ohio Democrats. But those numbers were only looking at absentee ballot requests by mail. Now that early voting is almost complete, how are things looking for Mitt Romney and down-ticket Republicans?

They are looking very good. These numbers were released from the Romney campaign this morning, and include ALL early voting, both by mail and in-person.

Democrats have cast 557,177 ballots. A decrease of 154,911 from 2008.
Republicans have cast 480,843 ballots. An increase of 108,345 from 2008.

That's a net difference of 263,256 votes in favor of Republicans. In 2008, Barack Obama won Ohio by a margin of 262,224. Incredibly, before election day has even arrived, it appears that Mitt Romney has completely eliminated Obama's margin of victory.

The Obama/Brown War on Coal still killing Ohio jobs

Regular readers of this blog are familiar with how the extreme environmental policies of the Obama Administration are killing coal jobs in Ohio. Not only does Southeast Ohio's economy rely on a significant coal industry, but as a state, Ohio depends on coal for 82% of its electricity.

By voting to keep "Utility MACT", extreme left-wing Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown has wholeheartedly lined up next to Obama in his attack. Although he constantly attempts to paint himself as a friend to the coal industry, Ohioans and coal miners know better:

President Obama’s bullying regulatory measures, such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s new Utility MACT rule, which Senator Brown supported, while other Democrats from coal states like Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) did not, will have a direct impact on coal and coal-fired power plants in Ohio and other states. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce called the rule one of the most expensive in U.S. history because of the excessive burden it places on power plants.

Dr. Freud Would Be Proud, Joe

Vice President Joe Biden was caught speaking his mind again, and this time, it sure would make Dr. Sigmund Freud pretty darn proud:

"There's Never Been A Day In The Last Four Years I've Been Proud To Be His Vice President"

We agree, Joe.  There's never been a day in the last four years we've been proud of either of you.

Double Check Your Ballots on Election Day

Problems are beginning to arise with voting machines in Ohio. On election day, it is very important that you double check your ballots.

In Marion County, Joan Stevens went to vote early. As she tried to cast her vote for Mitt Romney on the electronic touch screen, Barack Obama's name lit up. It took Ms. Stevens three tries before her vote for Mitt Romney was accurately recorded.

Ms. Stevens informed a board of elections member, Jackie Smith, of the irregularity. Ms. Smith mentioned to Joan Stevens that the machine had been having problems all day. Joan Stevens also informed Sophia Rogers, the director of the board of elections for Marion County.

This problem with the machine could be a simple calibration issue. Ms. Rogers took the appropriate step and had the machine recalibrated. In a similar instance in North Carolina, elections officials had the machine inspected and recalibrated, according to FoxNews.

Dispatch: Obama's Bailout Left Many Behind

The Obama campaign likes to make a lot of fuss about the auto bailout, which used $82 billion of your tax dollars to confiscate the interests of auto industry bondholders and gave it to the likes of UAW and foreign companies like Fiat.  Not to mention, the government shuttered numerous car dealerships right here in Ohio.

Something Just Ain't Right: Romney Up With Independents, But Down Overall?

A new poll on the presidential election hit this morning, giving Obama a 50% to 45% edge over Romney in the Buckeye State.  With other polls showing the race much, much tighter, something just ain't right about that +5% Obama advantage.

So, as always, we looked at the numbers.

Quinnipiac has the race broken down with Democrats siding with Obama 92% - 6%, Republicans with Romney at 91% - 7%, and Independents favoring Romney 49% to 43%.  As we've said before, Independents are where elections are won, and almost every poll shows Romney clearly has the edge in this category.  But despite Romney being up 6% among the key electoral demographic, Obama is winning Ohio by 5%?

ODP Chairman Chris Redfern changes his story

Last week, we told you about how Chris Redfern, chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party and wanna-be pirate, is running for state representative in the 89th district. Problem is, the 89th consists of Erie and Ottawa Counties in northern Ohio along the lake, and Redfern lives in Bexley, over 100 miles away.

When the ODP published its list of delegates to the DNC Convention, Redfern even listed his residence as Bexley there as well. After we exposed this on their website, they removed the file to try to hide the truth.

Further, Redfern just bought a new house in the Columbus area this year, his second, and his Port Clinton house in the district is for sale.

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman laughs at Erie and Ottawa County voters - Toledo Blade Photo

Tom Jackson from the Sandusky Register picked up on our story and questioned Redfern.

Romney Showing Strength, Democrats Showing Desperation

As Obama has seen his lead in numerous swing states erode--and even vanish--the Romney campaign has been looking to expand the map.  Latest news out of the Keystone State has Romney making a major push in Pennsylvania with his latest ad buy:

Mitt Romney’s campaign has bought air time in Pennsylvania, saying in a memo that the Democratic-leaning state now represents an opportunity for the Republican campaign. 

“Pennsylvania presents a unique opportunity for the Romney campaign,” political director Rich Beeson wrote. “Mitt Romney is more competitive in the voter-rich Philadelphia suburbs than any Republican nominee since 1988.”

This is a major move by the Romney campaign.  While Ohio is a traditional swing state, and has garnered much deserved attention this election cycle, Pennsylvania is a center-left state, going Democrat in every presidential election in the last two decades.  A month ago, Pennsylvania was swinging as much as 12% in Obama's favor--now RealClearPolitics has it rated as a toss-up.

Romney's move in to the state shows he sees an opportunity to expand the map, making a show of strength in a play for more than the necessary 270 electoral votes to take the White House.

But that doesn't mean Democrats won't try to spin it their way.

Union Group's Issue 2 FAIL Continues

Last week, the union front group We Are Ohio sent out this email, highlighting that they are finally on television, advertising for a Yes on Issue 2, despite the ad saying nothing about what the proposal actually does...

Dennis Willard has been the Communications Director for We Are Ohio since the Issue 2 campaign last year.  He's on staff, paid for by the money unions steal...err... appropriate from their members.

So would someone please tell Dennis that his YouTube page is STILL advertising "No on Issue 2," as we pointed out over two weeks ago?!

Kasich's Approval Carrying Weight in Ohio

On the way into work today, I heard a familiar voice endorsing U.S. Senate Candidate, and Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel.

“I’m blessed to have the privilege to lead our great state, and I’m proud to say we’re turning things around and getting Ohioans back to work... For Ohio to continue to do better, we need new leadership in Washington that will put the best interests of Ohio first. We need new leaders like Josh Mandel.”

The ad is incredibly effective, not simply because of its content--Mandel certainly will help turn Washington around and help keep Ohio's economy improving--but because of the guy delivering the message: Governor John Kasich.

According to the new Ohio Newspaper Poll, Governor Kasich is getting the job done, earning the approval of 56% of Ohioans.  And that number comes not only from Republican allies, but from almost every demographic:

New poll: Renacci beating Sutton by 10 points, hits 51%

After last years redistricting process in which Ohio lost two congressional seats, a showdown was set up in the 16th congressional district. Longtime liberal and Pelosi puppet Betty Sutton was drawn into the same district as Jim Renacci, a self-made businessman serving his freshman term in Congress.

Sutton was elected to the old 13th district seat formerly held by Sherrod Brown, after he left it to join the Senate. This was a very blue district, and Betty Sutton is basically a female clone of Sherrod. This ad from the Congressional Leadership Fund highlights her left-wing voting record.



While some on the left have deluded themselves into believing that Renacci is losing the race, a new poll suggest just the opposite. From Wes Anderson with OnMessage Inc:

Ohio Democratic Party scrubs website of Redfern's Bexley residence

Two days ago, we informed you of the emerging story regarding Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern and his candidacy for state representative for Ohio's 89th district, which consists of Erie and Ottawa Counties. He doesn't live there.

One of the main pieces of evidence is a press release on the ODP's own website. The page is an announcement of who had been chosen as Ohio delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Towards the bottom there is a link that said "The full list is available online as a download here." Clicking on that link brought up an Excel file listing all of the delegates and what city in Ohio they were from.

Obama's perpetual lie about the auto industry

Barack Obama has told some whoppers in his pursuit of a second term. But the biggest lie of all is that he saved the auto industry, particularly here in Ohio. Senator Rob Portman has penned an op-ed exposing the Obama campaign’s dishonesty.

President Obama Doesn't Support Small Business

President Obama’s visit to Cleveland yesterday included plenty of rhetoric but little else for those wondering what he stands for.

Plenty of Ohioans still can’t figure out whether President Obama stands in support of small business owners.  He claims to support the American worker, but how can you support the worker but not the person that employs them?

Ultimately, Ohio’s small business owners are left to deal with his unnecessary rules and regulations that do nothing but slow their growth.  These are the same people that hire the workers Obama claims to support.

I think most people would agree that 4,200 incoming regulations upon small businesses makes it harder them to expand their business and hire new employees.

How about $515 billion; the estimated cost of these regulations?  You can’t be pro worker by forcing small business owners to lay off employees so they can pay for duplicate and overbearing regulations.

ODP Chairman Residency Scandal: New Evidence Emerges

Just this Wednesday, we broke the news that Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern, candidate for Ohio House District 89, doesn't actually live in his district.  And it's not even close.  His actual residence is some 120 miles from HD 89, in Bexley, a suburb of Columbus.

And after some digging, the evidence just keeps piling up.

Yesterday, Third Base Politics was tipped off by a commenter that not only does Redfern not live in the 89th district, the property he maintains there is for sale.

Ted Strickland loses it on CNN trying to rewrite his legacy

This video is a couple of weeks old, but it's still amusing to watch. After the first debate where Mitt Romney wiped the floor with President Downgrade, Candy Crowley of CNN held a conversation about Ohio with former governor Ted Strickland and Attorney General Mike DeWine.

Watch how DeWine politely lets Strickland have his say, but then when it's the other way around, Ted can't keep his cool and constantly interrupts DeWine.



Nice hissy fit, Ted. Denying there was ever a budget shortfall, and calling everyone a liar. That's the best Ted can do to salvage his failed legacy. What makes it even more pathetic? Getting smacked down by Mike DeWine. Priceless.

BREAKING: ODP Chair Running For State Rep, Lives Outside The District

Democrats in Ohio recently have been trying to stir controversy over an apparent clerical error up in Ottawa County, which resulted in some misinformation going to voters in the area.  Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern was all over it:

"There is no excuse... to botch their most basic job, notifying voters when and where to exercise their right to vote," said a statement from Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern, who resides in Ottawa County. (Emphasis mine).

Looks like Chris Redfern certainly has been spending a lot of time focusing on Ottawa County, but apparently he hasn’t spent enough time there. According to the Ottawa County Board of Elections these postcards began arriving last week.  So why did it take so long for Chris Redfern to ask in the first place? Shouldn’t he have known about this before it happened since he “lives” there?

Or perhaps there's another explanation: Chris Redfern, candidate for Ohio House District 89, doesn't actually live in House District 89, as required by the law.

Give Brown The Pink Slip

Dems sue Sheriffs to let inmates vote for Barack

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It has been apparent that the Obama campaign does not have the momentum it had in 2008. To try and make up for their lackluster performance, the Obama campaign is now concerned about those who become incarcerated the final three days before the election.

Fair Elections Ohio has filed a class-action lawsuit to require Ohio’s elections boards to “provide a means of voting for all confined voters that is at least equivalent to that provided for hospitalized persons.”