A new poll suggests that Republican John Kasich has caught Gov. Ted Strickland in the 2010 race for governor.

The Quinnipiac University poll released today shows a 40-40 percent tie with Ohio voters seeing Kasich as better able to handle rebuilding the state’s economy and budget.

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Besides gigs that keep laughing watchers in stitches on Jay Leno’s TV comedy skits, what’s shared in common by U.S. Reps. Steve LaTourette, R-Bainbridge Township, and Dennis Kucinich, D-Cleveland?

Right. A health care reform plan which patients can, uh, live with. But for the two congressman, it’s just not the package both voted against Saturday in a money-spending bill which passed by a 220-215 vote in the Democrat-majority U.S. House in D.C.

The House majority said that even surgeons prevailed over any budgetary cuts.

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As a story to be reported, watch state Rep. Matt Dolan, R-Russell Township.

Dolan is more than just planning to move out of Geauga County and into Cuyahoga County to run as a Republican in the GOP September primary for that newly created position of elected county executive director.

In the print edition of this newspaper in columns past and upcoming, numerous Democrats and Republicans, including Dolan, have been speculated as such candidates.

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As wondered before by this speculator, it doesn’t appear that U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette, R-Bainbridge Township, will be on the “Jay Leno Show” tonight (Thursday).

Now others are also saying that’s the schedule for the comedy skit of LaTourette and U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Cleveland, being interviewed by comedian D.L. Hughley. The Leno show begins at 10 p.m.

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Absence might make the heart grow fonder for gambling.

That is, if absentee voting continues the way it did Monday, the Ohio casino gambling issue might be approved instead of being rejected the way statewide voters did four similar issues.

Down in Columbus, that’s what the Franklin County Elections Board is starting to suggest about pro-casino State Issue 3. That’s because pro-gambling interests are the ones which got the majority of such absentee voters to vote in the state capital and its suburbs.

As reported in regular news reports, growing numbers of early absentee voters might be a casino boost in Lake and Geauga counties.

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By now around the country, everybody’s heard that an upcoming skit or two on NBC’s Jay Leno Show will feature U.S. Reps. Steve LaTourette, R-Bainbridge Township, and Dennis Kucinich, D-Cleveland.

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Whatever happened to Democrat Mary Ellen Withrow, the only female ever to be a county (Marion County), state (Ohio) and then a U.S. treasurer with her name signed onto the dollar and other bills?

Well, the former U.S. treasurer is back. And she’s now signing onto endorsements of the Nov. 3 statewide state Issue 3 in favor of casinos and cash wagering with any kind of greenback including the $1, $100 and higher.

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