by JD Davidson
Incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown still has a slim lead over Republican challenger Bernie Moreno, according to a fresh poll.
A poll of 1,000 likely voters conducted by Bowling Green State University and the Public Policy Research Network shows Brown leading Moreno 49%-45%. Brown has won each of his last six campaigns by at least 6 points.
The the survey also shows Brown as the only public figure with a positive net rating among respondents of plus-1. Moreno has the lowest rating of minus-14.
The poll also found that respondents believe the current political environment is the most toxic of their lives, with 84% of respondents agreeing. Another 85% believe it is essential for people with different views to talk to each other.
Eighty-six percent feel exhausted and 85% feel irate at least some of the time when thinking about politics. 79% believe the current political climate will lead to more violence, and another 82% believe it has weakened the United States internationally.
The poll also found that 88% of Democrats believe Republicans are petty; 84% believe they are dishonest; and 75% believe they are immoral.
At the same time, 79% of Republicans think Democrats are dishonest, 74% think they are immoral, and 59% think they are slothful.
“The differences in how Democrats and Republicans currently perceive themselves are sobering,” said Robert Alexander of Bowling Green. “Calls for civil discourse are difficult when so many perceive the ‘other side’ as immoral and dishonest.”
Internet poll of 1,000 likely Ohio voters conducted from September 18 to Sunday. The margin of error is +/- 3.6%.
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Ohio native J.D. Davidson is a veteran journalist with more than 30 years of experience at newspapers in Ohio, Georgia, Alabama and Texas. He served as a reporter, editor, editor-in-chief and publisher. Davidson is the magazine’s regional editor Central Square.
Photo “Sherrod Brown” by Sherrod Brown. Photo “Bernie Moreno” by Bernie Moreno.
