There may be no state that feels more betrayed by hopenchange than Ohio. So, it figures that the biggest backlash against Democrats would be in the Buckeye State.

Backlash? Try neck-snapping necktie party:

New numbers out of Ohio from Quinnipiac University show Republicans running away with the gubernatorial and Senate races even as Democrats insist that they are still in the game in this most critical of electoral battlegrounds.

The Q poll showed former Rep. John Kasich (R) leading Gov. Ted Strickland (D) by 17 points and former Rep. Rob Portman (R) ahead of Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D) by 20.

Democrats are adamant that the numbers -- particularly in the governor's race -- are flat wrong, pointing out that a CNN/Time survey in the field at around the same time showed Kasich up only seven points. And, according to internal poll numbers obtained by the Fix, a Strickland survey in the field from Sept. 12-14, showed the race Kasich 48 percent, Strickland 45 percent.

Strickland allies note that the campaign made a strategic decision in August to husband their resources for the fall stretch run, essentially handing the airwaves over to the Republican Governors Association, which spent nearly $3 million on ads hitting Strickland on the job losses in the state during his first four years as governor.

That's some darn fine spin those Democrats are babbling. Good practice for election day when it appears not only will they lose the senate and governorship, but perhaps as many as 5 House seats as well.