Ohio Senate Race Moved to Toss-Up/Tilt Republican

August 24, 2010 · 10:34 AM EDT

Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D) remains unreasonably optimistic about his prospects in the Senate race given his financial disadvantages, his standing in the polls, his campaign staff turnover and the national political environment. While Republican Rob Portman’s record certainly gives plenty for Democrats to shoot at, Fisher’s problems seem even larger. Because of that, we are moving this raced from Toss-up to Toss-up/Tilt Republican. Even this rating may understate Fisher’s problems a little more than two months out from Election Day.