One month after President Bush and Sen. John Kerry were effectively deadlocked in Ohio, Bush has surged to an 11-point lead over the Democratic nominee in that key battleground state, according to a new poll.
In the Ohio Poll, sponsored by the University of Cincinnati, 54 percent preferred Bush and 43 percent favored Kerry. Ohio is watched closely because no Republican has reached the White House without winning it.
In the poll of 456 likely voters that was conducted Sept. 12-18, men prefer Bush over Kerry 62 percent to 34 percent, and senior citizens, who often tilt toward Democrats, give Bush a 53-43 lead. The gender advantage that Democrats historically enjoy with women is non-existent in Ohio, with the two candidates splitting the female vote.