Trump's protectionism won over voters in northeastern and north-central OH, while both Hillary and Biden were proponents of free trade (which did them no favors in these regions). At this time, the key to a Democratic statewide win in OH is to hold strong in the aforementioned regions, which only Sherrod Brown has been able to do since the mid-2010s (his campaign was focused on protecting workers' rights, which resonated there).
Then what explains John Kasich? He's a free trader Republican that likes tax cuts and lesser government, how did that message win in 2010 and 2014?
Kasich basically won in 2010 due to tea party support and won in a landslide in 2014 because the Dems triaged the race. In both races his numbers were underwhelming in WWC areas, especially in 2010 that map looks like a clear Dem win if it had not been for Strickland doing lackluster in urban areas. Funny how many of the Strickland counties would never vote for a Dem again, not even for sherrod brown
