From the Columbus Dispatch:

In what could be a worrisome sign for the party that controls the White House and Ohio governor’s office, substantially more Democrats than Republicans are switching parties this year in early absentee-ballot requests from Ohio’s largest counties.

That’s a huge change from the 2008 Ohio primary, when far more Republicans than Democrats changed parties.

In Cuyahoga County, for example, the number of Democrats switching to the GOP outnumbered Republicans becoming Democrats by nearly 7 to 1 as of Tuesday. Two years ago, nearly five times as many Republicans switched in Ohio’s largest county.

Democrats lead the party conversions by almost 9 to 1 in Hamilton County, while it’s about 6 to 1 in Franklin County. Statewide totals aren’t available, but the three counties contain about 30 percent of all registered voters in Ohio.

Experts say it’s too soon to draw firm conclusions, but they think part of the reason for the change is that Republicans who switched for the heated Democratic presidential primary in Ohio two years ago are moving back to the GOP.

But the trend also could be another sign of concern for Democrats in midterm elections that historically have favored the party not in power in Washington, observers say.

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