Rob Portman (Republican) defeated Lee Fisher (Democrat) in the 2010 election for the US Senate seat from Ohio to succeed George Voinovich (Republican). Rob Portman, Republican, was the 35th Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Lee Fisher, Democrat was the 64th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio.
Comparison chart
 | Lee Fisher | Rob Portman |
|---|---|---|
| Political Party | Democratic | Republican |
| Preceded by | Bruce Edward Johnson | Joshua Bolten |
| Spouse(s) | Peggy Zone Fisher | Jane Portman |
| Residence | Shaker Heights, Ohio | Terrace Park, Ohio |
| Alma Mater | Oberlin College Case Western Reserve University School of Law | Dartmouth College University of Michigan Law School |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Politician | Attorney |
| Religion | Jewish | Methodist |
| Current Position | Lieutenant Governor of Ohio | Director of the Office of Management and Budget |
| Website | http://www.fisherforohio.com | http://www.robportman.com/ |
| Position on health care | Supports health care by intending to ensure affordable quality health care by lowering the mounting health care expenses. | Supports health care by inviting the private sector and the Government to collaborate their efforts towards the challenges of medical science. |
| Position on economy | Wants to discourage unemployment by creating favorable tax policies and strengthening the middle class. | Wants to encourage quality training programs to improve the skills of workers, thereby cutting down layoffs and unemployment issues. |
| Position on Energy | Co-ordination of the labor unions, academic and research institutions, entrepreneurs and community leaders to create a self sufficient state. | Emphasis on turning towards natural resources for energy. |
| Age | 58 | 54 |
| Place of birth | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Date of birth | August 7, 1951 | December 19, 1955 |
Economic Policy
Lee Fisher has economic recovery on top of his priority list. He wants to compensate for the issues that occurred during the earlier Presidential regime. He believes in fiscal discipline, strengthening the middle class, recognizing and rewarding hard work and investing in the nation’s people. He wants to ensure that appropriate tax policies are implemented to support this venture.
In order to combat the problems of unemployment and layoffs, Rob Portman believes in providing high standard training program to create highly skilled workers. He makes it a point to personally visit the facilities and understand the training orientation. Such programs are also extended to the shop floor workers. Portman encourages the economically advanced businessmen and successful companies to get into community development programs.
Differences in Health Care Policy
Lee Fisher believes in the need of providing affordable quality health care. He wants to protect hardworking families from mounting health care expenses provide adequate health care coverage to those who cannot afford it. He wants to ensure that every American can access affordable and quality health care facilities.
Rob Portman insisted on providing incentive for healthy living through prevention campaigns and efficient disease management. According to him, decisions on health care should vest on patients and doctors.
Energy Policy
Fisher believes in making the State of Ohio self sufficient in energy, and in making adequate investments in new clean energy sources so as to create jobs without outsourcing. He wants to position the State as a hub for the production of clean energy.
Ohio is rich in resources of energy like coal, oil and bio-fuel production and natural gas. Portman discourages levying of tough taxes and proposes the use of natural resources like nuclear power, renewable energy and technology so as to break the dependence the State has on foreign oil.
Early Life and Political Career
Born in Ann Arbor in Michigan, Lee Fisher graduated from Oberlin College in 1973 and received a Juris Doctorate in 1976 from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. In 1981, he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. From 1982, when he got elected to US Senate from Ohio, he served for eight years and worked on several laws for the children of the State of Ohio. Increase in funding for Ohio legal aid services was well supported by him. For four years, he was a State Attorney General. He ran for Governor but lost to his counterpart in the closest election. He has now reentered and is running for the US Senate seat from Ohio in 2010.
Born to entrepreneur parents, Portman graduated from Dartmouth College in Anthropology majors and a Juris Doctorate degree in 1984 from University of Michigan. He began his career as an international trade lawyer at Washington DC before returning to Cincinnati. He worked for President George H.W. Bush as Associate White House Counsel. Later, he was elected to the House of Representatives.
Fisher vs. Portman Opinion Polls (from Wikipedia)
Fisher and Portman are running a close race and the results of the election can only decide the winner.
| Poll Source | Date(s) administered | Rob Portman (R) | Lee Fisher (D) |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Columbus Dispatch (report) | August 25-Sept. 3, 2010 | 37% | 50% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | August 30, 2010 | 39% | 44% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | August 27-29, 2010 | 38% | 45% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | August 16, 2010 | 37% | 45% |
| Reuters/Ipsos (report) | August 6-8, 2010 | 36% | 43% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | August 2, 2010 | 40% | 44% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | July 19, 2010 | 39% | 45% |
| Rasmussen Report (report) | June 29, 2010 | 43% | 39% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | June 26-27, 2010 | 38% | 40% |
| Quinnipiac Polling (report) | June 22-27, 2010 | 40% | 42% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | June 3, 2010 | 43% | 43% |
| UC/The Ohio Poll (report) | May 11-20, 2010 | 46% | 47% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | May 7, 2010 | 42% | 43% |
| Quinnipiac Polling (report) | April 21-26, 2010 | 37% | 40% |
| Research 2000 (report) | April 5-7, 2010 | 39% | 43% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | March 30, 2010 | 43% | 38% |
| Quinnipiac (report) | March 23-29, 2010 | 37% | 41% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | March 20-21, 2010 | 41% | 36% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | March 4, 2010 | 44% | 39% |
| Quinnipiac University (report) | February 16-21, 2010 | 40% | 37% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | February 5-6, 2010 | 43% | 39% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | January 12, 2010 | 44% | 37% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | December 7, 2009 | 38% | 36% |
| Quinnipiac University (report) | November 5-9, 2009 | 39% | 36% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | September 23, 2009 | 41% | 40% |
| Quinnipiac University (report) | September 10-13, 2009 | 31% | 42% |
| Research 2000 (report) | July 6-8, 2009 | 35% | 42% |
| Quinnipiac University (report) | June 26-July 1, 2009 | 33% | 37% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | June 17-19, 2009 | 32% | 41% |
| Quinnipiac University (report) | April 28-May 4, 2009 | 31% | 42% |
| Quinnipiac University (report) | March 10–15, 2009 | 33% | 41% |
| Quinnipiac University (report) | January 29–Feb. 2, 2009 | 27% | 42% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | January 17-18, 2009 | 41% | 39% |
Joe Sestak 
Robin Carnahan 
Alexi Giannoulias 
Harry Reid 
Kelly Ayotte 
Democrat
Comments: Lee Fisher vs Rob Portman