I had heard this was in the works a few weeks ago, and it has been discussed quite a bit on Twitter, but now we have a link (that makes it credible, right? Yeah, journalism!)

Ohio Right to Life has some new poll data on both the governor’s race and the race for the US Senate in Ohio:

Gubernatorial candidate John Kasich and U.S. Senate candidate Rob Portman lead their respective opponents in a new poll released today by Ohio Right to Life Society. The Wenzel Strategies telephone survey of 1001 Ohio registered voters found Kasich holds a 10-point lead over Governor Ted Strickland. Portman holds a six-point lead over both potential opponents Lt. Governor Lee Fisher and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, the survey found. The results are similar to a Rasmussen Reports survey released last week, and can be found HERE.

The survey was conducted by Wenzel Strategies January 8-12 and included 1001 Ohio registered voters contacted by phone. The poll carries a 95% confidence interval and a margin of error of +/- 3.07 percentage points.

Breakdown below.

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Rob Portman has been working hard. He is well on his way to visiting all eighty-eight counties in Ohio; and with real meetings and events not just drive throughs. And he has been a fundraising monster; out raising Brunner and Fisher by significant amounts each and every cycle. Soon we will find out just how badly he has beaten the Dems this cycle. I am guessing: DOOM! (OK, it is still early but I wanted to communicate the impending dominance …)

And the polls continue to look good as well:

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in the Buckeye State shows the Republican hopeful picking up more votes than he did a month ago and leading both Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

Portman, who also served as the director of the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Trade Representative under President George W. Bush, now leads Fisher by seven points, 44% to 37%. Four percent (4%) like some other candidate, and 14% are undecided.

You want to know what will really stick in the craw of the netroots? This:

While the candidates are vying to fill the seat being vacated by retiring GOP Senator George Voinovich, both Fisher and Brunner for now appear to be hurt by the strong sentiments against the national health care plan being pushed by President Obama and congressional Democrats.

In Ohio, just 39% favor the plan while 56% oppose it. Those numbers include 18% who Strongly Favor it versus 49% who Strongly Oppose. These findings are virtually identical to voters’ views on the health care plan nationally.

Portman carries more than 70% of the vote of the much larger group who strongly oppose the plan against either Democrat. Brunner and Fisher both carry an even higher percentage of those who strongly favor the health care initiative.

And if you look at the numbers it seems clear that voters know that the current plan is going to cost a fortune and not provide the coverage and quality of care it promises. Which is exactly the message Portman has been focusing on.

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I had the chance to stop by the new campaign headquarters of Rob Portman today as they kick their US Senate campaign into full gear in 2010.

Portman was kind enough to take a moment to give me an update which I captured with my handy-dandy Flip Video camera.

Rasmussen in early December reported the following:

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state shows Portman now leading Brunner 40% to 33% after holding a two-point advantage in September. Just seven percent (7%) would choose another candidate, but 20% are undecided at this point.

Portman continues to run nearly even with Fisher 38% to 36%. In their match-up, 18% of Ohio voters are undecided, while another eight percent (8%) prefer another candidate. The two were virtually tied in September as well, with Portman just ahead 41% to 40%.