Sherrod Brown Looks Solid in New Ohio Poll
Look no further than Drew Carey for evidence that Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown’s political future is brightening.
The game-show host and longtime comedian recently told the Cleveland Leader that he is not considering a Brown Senate challenge in 2012, but Carey came as close to Brown in new polling as any potential Republican challenger. That’s 15 points away. (In case you’re wondering, Carey is considered a conservative libertarian.)
Brown led both Carey and Secretary of State Jon Husted 49 percent to 34 percent, according to the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, which surveyed 559 Ohio voters March 10-13. The margin of error was 4.1 points.
Brown, who appeared far more vulnerable in a December survey, led a handful of other Republicans — including Rep. Jim Jordan — by 16 to 19 points.
“Sherrod Brown appears to be in a much stronger position now than he was just three months ago,” said Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling. “There’s been a very significant shift in the Ohio political landscape toward the Democrats.”
The pollster notes that it’s early and Brown’s numbers are probably inflated given the relative obscurity of the GOP field. State Treasurer Josh Mandel is considered one to watch, for example, but he was known by just 25 percent of respondents.