OH-5: Where Is The Buehrer-Latta Squabble Headed? UPDATED

I am promoting this comment to the front page because it is consistent with what I have heard from my friend in Wood County regarding the nasty primary fight between State Sen. Steve Buehrer (R-Delta) and State Rep. Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green):

How about some basic facts in all of this mess: 1. BOTH Buehrer and Latta have voted for big tax increases. 2. BOTH have voted against big tax cuts. 3. BOTH have received donations from Tom Noe (before anything was known about him and BOTH promptly gave the money back). 4. BOTH are strong Pro-Life legislators. ANALYSIS: If Buehrer does not outspend Latta by %150,000 to $200,000, then Latta will win. Buehrer thinks he has the edge on issues, but there is not nearly enough traction to win. If the primary were today, he loses by double-digits. Regardless, if the contest gets even more negative, for the first time, I believe Weirauch could actually pull off a major upset in this district, especially if Buehrer wins the primary.

Buehrer is playing a dangerous game. Don't count Robin Weirauch (D-Napoleon) out, especially if the GOP primary continues to be this ugly.

UPDATE: I received the following anonymous comment from an apparent Buehrer supporter, responding to this post:

You really need to find a new source, and you should start by making it someone outside of Wood or Fulton County (the two candidates' home bases). There's only one reason why Latta would go so negative, so fast. His internal polls show him down. Going door-to-door to likely voting Republicans in a county that neither Bob Latta nor Steve Buehrer has ever represented, I can also tell you that Steve's message of promoting Bob's tax and spend voting record is gaining a whole "Latta" traction. This has also been confirmed from folks that I know that are making phone calls for the Latta campaign. I'm told it's the number one issue raised from could be voters. The message is resonating. Further, at the present time it seems that Buehrer is not only outspending Latta, he's also outworking him, as well. Buehrer has been at many events throughout the district, while Latta's running out to DC and striking out while trying to gain endorsements and financial support. Buehrer has a extremely sophisticated grassroots network throughout the district, which includes county chairs, county elected officials, state committee members and local party activists. These are not folks that are just lending their name to the campaign, these are folks that are organizing and participating in door-to-door every weekend. This network is also not just isolated to the 1st Senate District. I was told that just today the Buehrer Campaign had this machine in full effect with successful door-to-door activities in 3 or 4 counties, simultaneously, with more door-to-door scheduled tomorrow. Something that is desperately lacking in Bob Latta's campaign.

Just to give your source some clarification on their facts: They did both vote for the gas tax, but only one of them voted for the largest tax increase in Ohio history (Latta). Both did receive money from Tom Noe, but they did not "give it back." The money was donated to charity, in fact, they both donated it back to the same charity. Your source didn't mention one other similarity and difference. You can argue that both have utilized some negative campaign tactics. But only one has attacked his opponent for voting the same way he did on an issue and accepting money from the same individual (Latta). Further evidence that the Latta campaign is grasping at straws due to their dismal poll numbers.

Does anyone have any poll numbers since the field was narrowed? (And by the way, only anonymous comments are pre-screened; if you want your comment to appear quickly, just register as a user.)