Battleground Ohio

Baggage
Though Strickland's job loss numbers are so bad, early surveys show him running even with his opponent. A June Pew poll found that most voters still believe Democrats are "more concerned about people like me," and "can bring about the changes the country needs." It doesn't help that Kasich used to be a managing director at Lehmann Brothers, the former Wall Street banking giant whose 2008 meltdown was a key domino that set off the world financial crisis.

• Good News for Obama in Ohio?
• Prize-Winning Photos: Struggling Cleveland