Clinton and Kasich tied in presidential matchup in Ohio

A new poll shows Republican John Kasich would run neck and neck against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Ohio in a presidential race.

Quinnipiac University polled registered voters in three key swing states — Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida — and found Clinton tops possible GOP contenders in each matchup, except Ohio where she ties Kasich and except Florida where she ties former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

The poll found that Bush runs best of any Republican listed against Clinton.

“There is a reason why Hillary Clinton has followed a slower, less aggressive schedule when it comes to ramping up her expected presidential campaign than have virtually all of her potential White House opponents,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant poll director. “She holds double-digit leads over all her potential GOP opponents in the three biggest swing states, except for two Native Sons, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. And she is under little pressure from within her own party to hit the campaign trail.”

Brown said Clinton would begin the campaign in strong shape with Democrats, independent voters and even up to 15 percent of Republicans. She leads among women by margins of nine to 31 percentage points.

In Ohio, Clinton and Kasich are in a statistical dead heat at 44 percent for her to 43 percent for him. But Clinton beats four other GOP candidates in Ohio:

* 47 - 36 percent over Bush;

* 47 - 34 percent over New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie;

* 48 - 36 percent over U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky;

* 49 - 34 percent over former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

“Ohio Gov. John Kasich is in a statistical dead heat with Mrs. Clinton among the home folks, who re-elected him by roughly 2-1 last November,” Brown said in a written release. “But the 2014 election in Ohio was the aberration in a state that has been the one to watch. No Republican has ever won the White House without carrying the Buckeye State. Kasich scored his big victory by cutting into the traditional Democratic edge in a number of areas - women, blue-collar workers and taking a big share of the independent vote.”

The poll was conducted Jan. 22 to Feb. 1 and surveyed 943 voters in Ohio, 936 voters in Florida and 881 voters in Pennsylvania. The margin of error in Ohio is plus or minus 3.2 percent.

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