Ex-Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) has a big early lead in his rematch race with Rep. Steve Driehaus (D), according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted this week for Firedoglake.

The poll of 600 likely voters taken Jan. 12-14 gave Chabot, who represented the Cincinnati-area 1st district for 14 years, a 56 percent to 39 percent lead over Driehaus, who unseated Chabot in 2008 by a margin of 5 points.

Self-described independents sided overwhelmingly with Chabot, 69 percent to 27 percent, and Chabot did better among Republican voters (86 percent) than Driehaus did among Democratic voters (79 percent).

President Barack Obama carried the district with 55 percent of the vote, but 55 percent of district residents now disapprove of his job performance one year into his presidency.

Respondents were essentially split on the question of whether Americans should be required to carry health insurance. But they are overwhelmingly opposed to taxing individuals who choose not to purchase insurance.