The latest Rasmussen Reports survey of the Ohio race for governor shows likely Democratic nominee Congressman Ted Strickland leading by at least ten percentage points against each Republican most likely to capture the GOP nomination on May 2.

Strickland leads Secretary of State Ken Blackwell 50% to 40%. He leads Attorney General Jim Petro 47% to 34%.

Strickland has been steadily gaining ground. Our February survey showed Strickland leading Petro by seven points. In January Strickland led him by only five points. Now, Petro is 13 points behind. In January Strickland had only four points on Blackwell, which by February he had widened to a 12-point lead. Blackwell recovers a couple points in the current survey.

The Senate race is proving more of a nail-biter. Incumbent Mike DeWine (R) holds a narrow lead but is consistently polling below 50%.

Strickland has likely benefited from the acrimony between Republican camps. In recent ads Blackwell has sought to lump Petro with tainted Governor Bob Taft, convicted last year of ethics violations.

Petro has called the ads "false and vicious." If the lumping with Taft succeeds, though, he has reason to be apprehensive. The governor currently enjoys only a 23% job approval rating among likely voters. Seventy-six percent (76%) disapprove; 50% strongly disapprove.

Strickland has both the highest favorable rating and also the highest percentage of those Not Sure what to think of him. He is viewed favorably by 54% of likely voters, unfavorably by 28%.

Petro is viewed favorably by 41%, unfavorably by 46%. Blackwell is viewed favorably by 46%, unfavorably by 44%.

The rolling average of the last three Rasmussen Reports polls shows Strickland leading Blackwell 47% to 38%. In our last three Strickland-Petro polls, the Democrat leads 45% to 36%.

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