Ruh-Roh: DeWine Lowers Expectations on Holding Ohio House

I don't think Ohio Republican Pary Deputy Chair Kevin DeWine would be saying anything remotely like this if his polling on Ohio House races were good news for the GOP:

[Maintaining a majority in the Ohio House is] going to be a “big challenge,” DeWine said, acknowledging that his party is going to lose seats to Democrats.

Republicans control the House 53-46.

“It’s a difficult task to hold onto the majority,” DeWine said. “Whoever’s in charge [after the election] will be by the slimmest margin, probably by one vote.”

Making it even more difficult for Republicans, DeWine said, is that voters supporting McCain won’t necessarily help other Republicans on the ballot.

“I’m not sure either party can claim coattails,” he said. “People will vote for John McCain, but can I count on them to vote for Republicans down-ticket? No.”

The Democratic Party will likely lose at least one seat (the 58th District, where former State Rep. Matthew Barrett resigned in disgrace and his appointed successor declined to run for the next term), but there are good chances for flipping GOP seats in open seat races including Matt Patten (18th), Debbie Phillips (92nd), John Carney (22nd), Connie Pillich (28th), and Celeste DeHoff (50th), and with challengers Nancy Garland (20th), Mike Moran (42nd), and Mark Schneider (63rd).