Sure. Even after the economic crash in 2008 McCain was leading some Ohio polls.
Romney also won some polls in Ohio during the final weeks of the 2012 campaign.
It would've been a stretch, But it was not hard to imagine Obama losing Ohio both times.
Even with the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, Obama 08 won OH by "only" 4.5%, worse than his 7.2% national PV margin. The last time a Democrat outperformed in Ohio relative to the national PV margin, was McGovern 1972 (he lost OH by 21.5% vs national loss of 23.2%).
Kerry lost Ohio by 2.11% and the NPV by 2.46%.
