Poll: Portman, Strickland tied for Ohio Senate

Incumbent Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and former Gov. Ted Strickland (D-Ohio) are locked in a tie in the race for Ohio Senate, a new poll finds.

{mosads}A survey from the left-leaning Public Policy Polling released Monday found Portman and Strickland each taking 38 percent support, with 23 percent of voters saying they’re undecided.

Both candidates have negative favorability ratings, pollsters found. Portman is at 32 percent positive and 40 percent negative, while Strickland is slightly worse off, at 35 percent positive and 44 percent negative.

Portman faces a tough reelection fight in a key battleground state during a presidential election year when turnout could favor Democrats.

Strickland’s campaign on Monday highlighted an article from the Toledo Blade that notes GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump “looms over the race.”

Some Republicans are worried that the GOP will suffer heavy down-ballot losses if Trump is the party’s standard-bearer.

Still, Portman will have a huge cash advantage over Strickland. He finished March with about $13.5 million on hand, compared to less than $3 million for Strickland.

The Portman campaign has been dipping into its bank account early and often.

On Monday, the Republican’s campaign released a new ad attacking Strickland’s record as governor. The ad is part of a six-figure digital ad buy the Portman campaign hopes will reach 2 million viewers.

Strickland, meanwhile, picked up the support of former Democratic primary challenger P.G. Sittenfeld on Monday.