THERE IS a reason U.S. Senate candidate Rob Portman enjoys an enormous lead in public opinion polls among Ohio voters. Buckeye State residents recognize Portman is the better choice to represent them in Washington.

Polls conducted during the past few weeks have Portman anywhere from 10 to 23 points ahead of his rival, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher. In politics, polling advantages of that magnitude are considered gigantic.

Portman has earned the lead – and the Senate seat from Ohio. His positions reflect the needs and desires of Ohioans:

• Portman favors a prudent, diversified energy policy that relies on America’s strengths – including coal. He opposes “cap and trade,” pointing out that if it is implemented, it will increase utility bills for Ohioans as much as 60 percent and cost the state as many as 100,000 jobs.

• Tax relief is vital to get the economy rolling again. Fisher and his boss, Gov. Ted Strickland, have supported the failed policies of President Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Ohio’s unemployment rate, about 10.1 percent, is higher than the national average. Tax relief for Ohio families and businesses could change that, Portman understands.

• The national health care takeover engineered by Obama, Pelosi and Reid will be detrimental to many Ohioans, Portman recognizes. The law needs to be repealed and replaced with something better, he thinks.

• Under the Obama-Pelosi-Reid regime, the national debt has increased by about $2.7 trillion. Portman wants to curb deficit spending through a combination of government spending cuts and growth in the economy.

• On other critical issues, ranging from the need for a strong national defense to enforcement of immigration laws, Portman agrees with the vast majority of Ohioans.

Clearly, Portman would serve Ohioans well in the U.S. Senate. We endorse him and urge voters to cast their ballots for Portman in the Nov. 2 election.