If Sohio Was In Charge. . .

. . .would the current Gulf situation be different?

Probably not.

The reactions from Ohioans might have been different though.

Ohioans no longer feel a connection to this once-Ohio-based company.  It started with the removal of the Sohio name from the company's headquarters and then the retail gas stations in the late 1980's.

The Ohio connection has completely dried up in the 11 years since the HQ moved from downtown Cleveland to suburban Chicago in 1999.