Ohio’s Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland looks very vulnerable to a 2010 challenge from former Republican Rep. John Kasich, with Strickland holding only a 44 percent to 42 percent lead with 14 percent undecided in a Public Policy Polling survey conducted June 17-19. The margin of error is 3.9 percent.

Strickland’s favorable-to-unfavorable ratio is only 43 percent to 42 percent with 15 percent undecided. Kasich’s is 31 percent to 30 percent, but in his case, 39 percent are undecided which is not surprising, since despite his nine terms, he left the House after 2000.

Strickland’s approval among fellow Democrats has dropped from 70 percent to 62 percent, and Republican disapproval of his performance has risen from 59 percent earlier this year to 72 percent.

PPP’s Dean Debnam notes that “Midwestern states have been hit harder by the downturn in the economy than most places and their governors are paying a price for it.”

*To follow the 2009 and 2010 governors’ races, check out CQ Politics’ election map.*