We have a new poll to give us an idea of where Ohio voters' minds are as we approach the start of early voting. It is hard to believe, but Ohioans start casting ballots in about two and a half weeks.
There are two big races on the ballot in Ohio. The race to succeed term-limited Mike DeWine pits two outsiders: Republican billionaire businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat former Ohio Health Director Amy Acton.
Then there is the race to fill out the term of former U.S. Senator and now Vice President JD Vance. Appointed Republican Senator Jon Husted faces Democrat and former Senator Sherrod Brown.
It should come as no surprise that the races remain very close, according to the poll conducted by Bowling Green State University. But the BGSU poll does show a slight advantage for the Democrats.
In the race for governor, Amy Acton leads Vivek Ramaswamy by 3 percentage points, 48% to 45%.
In the race for U.S. Senate, Sherrod Brown leads Jon Husted by 3 percentage points, 48% to 45%.
Now, the margin of error is a tick under 4 percentage points. So for all intents and purposes, these races are tied.
To carve up this poll and determine what it means, we welcome back Robert Alexander, Bowling Green State University political science professor and director of the BGSU Democracy and Public Policy Network.
Snollygoster of the week
We’re all aware of the fight over the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Formally known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, it was established to remember the slain president and recently became a target for President Trump. He placed himself and loyalists on the center’s board, which then named him chairman.
They changed the name to the Donald J. Trump John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. A judge ruled he could not do that and made the center remove the name. The old name is covered in tarps. Now, after other naming fights, canceled performances, and accusations of severe maintenance problems, the center is closed.
Such drama.
In the middle of it is Congresswoman Joyce Beatty of Central Ohio. She is an ex-officio member of the Kennedy Center board. She has led the fight against President Trump’s meddling in the Kennedy Center. She filed the lawsuit that got his name removed. She and the president clashed at this week’s board meeting. Trump called her "dumb and incompetent". She accused him of throwing a temper tantrum.
Such drama.
But Joyce Beatty is playing a leading role. She is all over MS NOW, quoted in numerous national publications, and winning rave reviews for her fight against President Trump and her fight for the Kennedy Center.
Which is 401 miles from the center of her congressional district.
Whatever you think of the fight, it has been a pretty shrewd one for the seven-term congresswoman.