Six-plus weeks out, it's looking like a "Buckeye Blowout" for the GOP in Ohio, writes Jeremy Jacobs at Hotline On Call:

Sinking Strickland. Former Rep. John Kasich has opened up a sizable 54% to 37% lead over Gov. Ted Strickland in the Ohio gubernatorial race among likely voters, according to a Quinnipiac poll out Thursday.

The Ohio governor's race is one of the pivotal battlegrounds for Democrats this year. The Quinnipiac poll shows that, above all else, Strickland is struggling among independent voters. They back Kasich by a 55% to 32% margin.

These numbers pose a bigger problem for Democrats than they may appear at first glance. Democrats face countless competitive races up and down the ballot in Ohio -- most notably, the Senate race and at least 6 House races -- and one of their arguments for why they can win is Strickland's political operation. If he limps toward Election Day, it'll be a major drag on the prospects of many other Democrats.

On other interesting stat in the poll: 52% said having Pres. Obama campaign with Strickland wouldn't make any difference on their vote.