GOP pollster: Ohio's Senate race all but over

Republican strategists are confident Ohio's open Senate seat will remain in the GOP column.

A new survey by Wilson Research Strategies has Republican Rob Portman leading Democrat Lee Fisher 49 to 38 percent. The poll of 500 likely Ohio voters conducted Oct. 20-21 doesn't leave much hope for Fisher. There are only 8 percent undecided — meaning that if all those voters break his way, Portman still has enough support to win.

When it comes to independents, who make up more than a quarter of the electorate, the Republican has an even larger lead. Fisher trails Portman 29 to 54 percent among independents. 

"Barring unforeseen circumstances, Rob Portman should be the next U.S. Senator from Ohio," Wilson Research Strategies concluded in a polling memo released Monday.

Earlier polls had shown Portman leading by as many as 22 points, but the Republican isn't sitting on his lead. His campaign recently released five versions of a TV ad titled "Future Generations" to air in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo. It's the 10th TV commercial he's released, compared to one for Fisher during the general election.