Good news for Crites: nobody knows Cordray after two statewide races

Democrat Richard Cordray may have an 18-point lead in the race for Attorney General, but the poll is not entirely good news for him.  Cordray has already run statewide twice – a losing race for Attorney General in 1998 and a winning bid for State Treasurer in 2006 – but 74% of Ohio voters haven’t heard enough about him to decide if they like him or not.  Cordray is no more well-known than two other statewide elected officials: Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and State Auditor Mary Taylor.

His Republican opponent, Mike Crites, is unknown to 80% of Ohio – not much worse than Cordray.  Crites served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio (he prosecuted Reds Hall of Famer Pete Rose), but he hasn’t run for office since his election to the Olentangy School District Board of Education.

Statewide, Cordray leads 44%-26%.  He has a 35%-22% lead among Independents, and a 77%-3% leads among Democrats.  Crites doesn’t do as well among Republicans as Cordray does among Democrats (64%-8%), but he probably has some room to grow.  Cordray runs slightly better  among women (47%-22%) than men (41%-30%), which is typical for a Democratic candidate.  Crites leads narrowly 37%-33% among white born again evangelicals – again, he’ll probably be able increase his lead there.

Cordray leads 47%-22% in Central Ohio, 45%-23% in Northeastern Ohio, 47%-28% in Northwestern Ohio, 48%-18% in Southeastern Ohio, 40%-29% in Southwestern Ohio, and 39%-34% in West Central Ohio.