Staff Reports
Senator Sherrod Brown is apparently pulling ahead like a runaway train in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, which was formerly a Trump stronghold in 2020. According to a Noble Predictive Insights poll commissioned by Inside Elections, Brown enjoys a comfortable 13-point lead over his Republican challenger, entrepreneur Bernie Moreno. Of course, this is the same district where voters took a stand for Trump, making these results as shocking as a surprise ending in a bad sitcom.
The poll surveyed 435 likely voters, which could be a tall order in a state notorious for political surprises. The margin of error sits at a cozy +/- 4.7%, making it an intriguing scenario for both camps. Meanwhile, in another slap to the GOP’s face, incumbent Rep. Marcy Kaptur is leading her Republican challenger Derek Merrin by 10 points. It’s starting to look like the opposition is either doing something seriously wrong or Ohio voters have collectively lost their marbles.
In this round, the unwavering loyalty of Democratic voters has become nothing short of a political magic trick. An impressive 94% of Brown’s voters would happily cast their ballot for Vice President Kamala Harris, while only 75% of Trump supporters were willing to pledge their allegiance to Moreno. A dismal 8% of Trump voters stated they would actually consider voting for Brown, a move that could only materialize in a parallel universe where clowns can fly.
Let’s not overlook Brown’s clever chameleon-like moves to present himself as the “bipartisan hero.” He’s even asked President Biden to do the honorable thing and exit the presidential race, no doubt hoping to shed the sense of doom that comes with Biden’s administration. Instead of just scrapping Biden’s agenda while maintaining his Democrat credentials, Brown decided to pretend he’s been working with the GOP on electric vehicles, supporting efforts to thwart a significant funding mechanism for the EV initiative that many view as just another nail in the coffin of American energy independence.
Moreno, a bona fide Trump ally, showed he had what it takes by defeating the more seasoned Ohio Senator Matt Dolan in the primary. As Election Day looms in November, the stakes are high for Moreno. He’ll need to channel what remaining energy Trump has left to ignite the base before Ohio’s deep-seated Democratic loyalties rally in full effect.
The poll isn’t sparing the GOP any kindness, revealing that Biden’s sidekick Harris is neck-and-neck with Trump at a disheartening 44%. What’s worse, her favorability slightly outshines Trump’s, leaving many scratching their heads at how the party’s supposed heavyweights are failing to capture a majority. To add insult to injury, the popular Senator J.D. Vance has a favorability rating of just 43%, a statistic that reads less like a celebration and more like a cry of desperation. In a state that should be friendly to Trump, it seems maintaining an army of blue-collar appeal is proving more challenging than herding cats.
