Ohio 2008 Preferences Show Voters Still Tilt Republican in Most Important State

As I mentioned here, every four years Ohio is the unparalleled predictor of who will be elected President. Ohio has voted for the presidential winner in 43 of the 51 elections held since the state was admitted into the Union. And, since 1972, Ohio has voted for the winner 100% of the time.

That's why what early polls in Ohio about the general election are important. A Quinnipiac University poll released today shows the two major Republican candidates defeating Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and the undeclared and unlikely Al Gore. The results:

Giuliani – 46 Giuliani – 45 Giuliani – 47
Clinton – 41 Obama – 37 Gore – 39

McCain – 44 McCain – 42 McCain – 46
Clinton – 42 Obama – 36 Gore – 39

These numbers are particularly intriguing because, in the wake of the Bob Taft scandals at the State House, Democrats were elected to statewide offices here for the first time in more than a decade. (But Republicans retained control of both houses of the General Assembly, our state legislature.) These admittedly early numbers would seem to indicate that there hasn't been a sea change in political philosophy among Ohio voters. They still tilt Republican.

(TY to Columbuser.com, fast becoming one of my favorite blogs.)