The Ohio race for US Senate remains in a deadlock as incumbent Republican Mike DeWine leads Democratic Congressman Sherrod Brown 43% to 41%. Rasmussen Reports notes that the poll has a margin of error of +/- 4.5% so the contest is a virtual dead heat.

Mike DeWine with Slim Lead

Neither politician appears to be very popular so this will likely come down to grass roots turnout, and DeWine has fallen out of favor with Conservatives on a variety of issues.

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The report from Scott Rasmussen:

DeWine has been very steady in all five polls we've conducted on this race, earning between 43% and 46% of the vote each time. Brown, with one exception, has stayed between 40% and 42%.

DeWine is viewed favorably by 55% of likely voters, unfavorably by 35%. Brown is viewed favorably by 43%, unfavorably by 32%, with 25% Not Sure yet what to think of him.

Just 14% have a "very favorable" opinion of DeWine. That number is just 15% for Brown. Each man is viewed "very" unfavorably by 12% of Likely Voters.

Though Brown is regarded as "ultra-liberal" by foes, Senator DeWine, a two-term incumbent, has not escaped sharp dissatisfaction from Republicans and conservatives. He is perceived by those on the right as wobbly on gun rights, on environmental issues, on fiscal conservatism—and on the issue of the day, immigration.

The senator supports an immigration bill that would create a guest worker program for illegal aliens.

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This is a must win for the Democrats if they have any chance of taking back the US Senate.

Full Report at Rasmussen Reports.

--Jim Roberts