DAYTON, Ohio -- Ohio's Early Voters Give Obama A Running Head Start in Buckeye State: John McCain and Barack Obama are tied at 47% each in Ohio, among voters who have not yet cast a ballot, but who told WHIO-TV/SurveyUSA that they are certain to do so on or before election day.

But, among those in Ohio who told WHIO-TV/SurveyUSA that they have already voted, Barack Obama leads by 13 points. When the two populations are combined, the data is as here reported: Obama 49%, McCain 45%. Compared to an identical WHIO-TV/SurveyUSA poll released two weeks ago, Obama is down 1 point; McCain is flat.

Democrat Richard Cordray continues to lead Republican Mike Crites in the race for Ohio Attorney General; Cordray defeats Crites by 13 points today, down slightly from a 16-point advantage two weeks ago. Independent Robert Owens takes 8% of the vote today; 9% of voters are undecided in this contest.

Ballot Issue 5, concerning payday lending, could go either way: 32% of Ohio voters say they are certain to vote "Yes" on the measure, 43% certain to vote "No," but with 25% of voters not yet certain, any outcome is possible. Among those who have already voted, "Yes" leads "No" by 10 points.

Ballot Issue 6, which would allow the construction of a casino in Clinton County, trails: 40% of voters say they are certain to vote "Yes" on 6, 54% are certain to vote "No." Among those who have already voted, the measure is defeated even more decisively.

Filtering: 800 adults interviewed; of them, 736 were registered to vote; of them, 648 were identified by WHIO-TV/SurveyUSA as having already voted or as being likely to vote on or before election day. Ohio has 20 electoral votes. George W. Bush carried the state by four points in 2000 and by two points in 2004.

Asked of 648 likely & actual voters. Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 3.9%
If the election for President were today, would you vote for ... (choices rotated) Republican John McCain? Democrat Barack Obama? Or one of the other candidates?

45% McCain (R)
49% Obama (D)
4% Other
3% Undecided

Asked of 648 likely & actual voters. Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 3.9%
Ohio will also elect an Attorney General. If the election for Attorney General were today, would you vote for ... (choices rotated) Republican Mike Crites? Democrat Richard Cordray? Or independent candidate Robert Owens?

35% Mike Crites (R)
48% Richard Cordray (D)
8% Robert Owens (I)
9% Undecided

Asked of 648 likely & actual voters incl. leaners. Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 3.9%
Ohio will also vote on several ballot proposals. On Issue, 5, regarding payday lending, are you ... Certain to vote yes? Certain to vote no? Or not certain? {Not Certain voters were asked: "At this hour, on Issue 5, do you ... lean toward yes? lean toward no, or do you not lean? "}

32% Lean Toward Yes
43% Lean Toward No
25% Don't Lean

Asked of 648 likely & actual voters incl. leaners. Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 3.9%
On Issue, 6, regarding allowing a casino in Clinton County, are you ... Certain to vote yes? Certain to vote no? Or not certain? {Not Certain voters were asked: "At this hour, on Issue 6, do you ... lean toward yes? lean toward no, or do you not lean?"}

40% Lean Toward Yes
54% Lean Toward No
6% Don't Lean