Four years after defeating Republican Sen. Mike DeWine in a nationalized race, Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown looks to be in for a tough re-election race of his own.
 
In a new Public Policy Polling survey, Brown gets a 40 percent approval rating and never takes more than 43 percent of the vote against any of the four Republicans tested. In a rematch with DeWine, who was just elected to be attorney general on Nov. 2, both candidates would take 43 percent.
 
Brown also led Secretary of State-elect Jon Husted 43 percent to 38 percent and Lt. Gov.-elect Mary Taylor 40 percent to 38 percent.
 
Matched up against Rep. Jim Jordan, the incoming head of the Republican Study Committee who Ohio sources believe is considering a bid, Brown leads 43 percent to 35 percent.

The survey from the Democratic-leaning firm was taken of 510 registered voters from Dec. 10-12 with a 4.3-point margin of error.

Meanwhile, Democrats took major hits in Ohio in the midterm elections, losing every statewide office race, five House seats and control of the state House. The losses set a tough scene for both Brown and President Barack Obama, whose re-election campaign will surely pay extra attention to the swing state.

Brown on Tuesday explained to the Washington Post that he would probably vote for the tax cut package on the Senate floor Wednesday despite blocking it in a procedural vote earlier this week.

“I voted against cloture because I wanted to continue to try to find a way to send a message to the House that there are allies here, in addition to the conversations there,” Brown told The Fix blog. Brown also said he “changed his mind after speaking with his minister and reading letters from constituents who are struggling amid the economic downturn,” The Fix reported.

Roll Call Politics rates this race Leans Democratic.

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