Fisher shows strength in U.S. Senate race

Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, a Democrat, has moved to the front of the crowd in the 2010 U.S. Senate race.

A Quinnipiac University Poll released on Wednesday, Sept. 16, showed Fisher leading Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner for the Democratic nomination and also topping either of the two Republican contenders - former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman of the Cincinnati area or Cleveland-area car dealer Tom Ganley - in the general election.

In a Democratic primary, Fisher led Brunner 26-17 percent, with 55 percent undecided.

In general election matchups, he topped Portman 42-31 percent and Ganley, 41-29 percent.

Brunner also beat the Republicans in general election matchups, besting Portman 39-34 percent and Ganley 39-31 percent.

In a GOP primary, Portman led Ganley 27-9 percent, with 61 percent undecided.

The strong showing by Fisher appeared to reflect an overall uptick in political fortunes for Democrats over the summer, Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said in a press release.

The poll also showed improvement in approval ratings for Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland and President Barack Obama.