Poll shows razor-thin race for Ohio's U.S. Senate seat

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Republican candidate Bernie Moreno and Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown are neck and neck in Ohio's U.S. Senate race, new polling shows.

Emerson College's survey conducted from Oct. 30 through Nov. 2 found that 48% back Moreno, 45% are voting for Brown and 6% are undecided. Among those undecided, about 40% are leaning toward Brown and 59% lean toward Moreno. Folding in the undecided's lean, 48% then back Brown and 52% back Moreno.

But the poll holds a margin of error of about +/-3.2%, and included a higher percentage of Republican respondents because Republicans typically outnumber Democrats by about this much in Ohio's presidential elections, Emerson said. Its poll surveyed 900 likely Ohio voters, with 31% identified as Democrat, 38% as Republican and 29% as independent.

Of those Ohioans, more than 25% said they have already voted and the remaining 74% said they are very likely to vote. Forty-four percent said the economy is the most important issue facing Ohio, followed by threats to democracy at 12%, immigration at 11%, and abortion access at nearly 7%. Housing affordability follows at also nearly 7% then healthcare at 6%.

The poll also found 54% in Ohio are voting for former President Donald Trump, while are 42% are planning to back Vice President Kamala Harris and nearly 2% are undecided. Among those undecided, 67% are learning toward Harris and nearly 33% lean toward Trump.

Nearly 82% of respondents said they made up their mind about which presidential candidate to vote for over one month ago, while 7% made their decision in the last month and 6% in the last week. More than 4% said they haven't decided. Regardless of who they support, 56% expect Trump to win and nearly 43% expect Harris to win.

More than 58% said they disapprove of Joe Biden's presidency, while 33% approve and 8% said they are neutral or have no opinion. Respondents were also asked about Mike DeWine's Ohio governorship, with 37% approving of his job, 33% disapproving and nearly 29% saying they are neutral or have no opinion.

Nearly 37% said they have a very favorable view of Trump and more than 41% said they have a very unfavorable view of Trump. Thirty percent of respondents said they have a very favorable view of Harris and 48% said they have a very unfavorable view of Harris.

More than 49% said they voted for Trump in the 2020 presidential election and 41% voted for Biden, while nearly 3% voted for someone else and 7% did not vote.