 The policies of the then-president Barack Obama proved to be a hot topic among voters, with Strickland voicing his support for the healthcare overhauls initiated by Obama's administration, contrary to Kasich, who attacked the policies.When the polls closed on election night, the race was very close, with Stickland and Kasich neck and neck.As the night wore on, Kasich's lead began to pick up strength, however once Cuyahoga County came in, Strickland began to erode away at Kasich's lead.