Sen. George Voinovich (R) could be looking at a rough path to re-election in 2010, according to results from a recent Quinnipiac University Polling Institute survey.

When matched up with a generic Democratic candidate, Voinovich earned support from 36 percent of survey respondents. The Democrat had support from 35 percent, while 18 percent said it would depend on the candidate. The poll did not directly test Voinovich against a specific Democrat.

Of those who were polled, 44 percent said Voinovich deserved to be re-elected, including 54 percent of Republican and 37 percent of Democratic respondents. Voinovich had a 39 percent favorable rating.

The Quinnipiac survey of 1,468 voters was taken Dec. 4-8 and had a margin of error of 2.6 points.

Voinovich, 72, has been the object of retirement rumors, but his office and the $2.5 million in his campaign account suggest he wants to stay put. Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D) and Rep. Tim Ryan (D) are often mentioned as possible candidates to taken on Voinovich.

Fisher, however, proved relatively unknown in the survey results with 23 percent of respondents giving him a favorable review and 66 percent of respondents saying they had not heard of the lieutenant governor. The poll did not query voters about Ryan.