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Posted on 03/10/2006 6:46:08 AM PST by Kieri
Granholm holds lead but DeVos gains, poll says 3/9/2006, 11:13 p.m. ET By JOHN FLESHER The Associated Press
(AP) — Republican challenger Dick DeVos is edging closer to Gov. Jennifer Granholm, but the Democratic incumbent remains ahead as voters hold her less accountable than President Bush for Michigan's economic woes, according to poll results released Thursday.
The telephone survey, conducted Sunday through Wednesday by Lansing-based EPIC/MRA for WXYZ-TV in Southfield, also showed Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow well ahead of her three potential GOP rivals.
Fifty-one percent of the 600 likely voters polled supported Granholm, while 41 percent backed DeVos. The remaining 8 percent were undecided. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 4 percentage points.
A Jan. 15-25 EPIC/MRA poll showed Granholm ahead 53 percent to 36 percent, with 11 percent undecided.
The race has tightened as DeVos, the presumptive GOP nominee, aired two television commercials in recent weeks focusing on jobs and the economy, which voters overwhelmingly identified as Michigan's biggest problem.
DeVos will continue running the ads at least through next week and will have spent more than $1 million on them soon, spokesman John Truscott said.
Ed Sarpolus of EPIC/MRA said it's clear DeVos is benefiting from the ads.
"There's been some increase in his name recognition," Sarpolus said.
Twenty-seven percent of those who know his name now say they have a favorable opinion of the Ada businessman, while 20 percent have an unfavorable opinion and 23 percent were undecided. In December, 22 percent had a favorable opinion, 20 percent had an unfavorable opinion and 21 percent were undecided.
DeVos gained primarily among demographic groups who supported Republican Dick Posthumus for governor four years ago, such as white men, Sarpolus said. DeVos needs to boost his standing with women, who solidly favor Granholm, Sarpolus said.
Fifty-six percent said they had a favorable opinion of Granholm, while 38 percent had an unfavorable opinion and 5 percent were undecided, similar to December's poll.
Voters are evenly divided about Granholm's job performance, but give Bush a 62 percent negative rating while only 37 percent rate him positively. Asked about Michigan's struggling economy, nearly half said President Bush was more responsible, while 28 percent blamed Granholm.
An additional 13 percent said neither was at fault, and 3 percent said both were.
DeVos will have to change that perception to unseat Granholm, and it may take finding a different message from the one Republicans have been conveying, Sarpolus said.
"Michigan voters have heard this for 20 years — 'I'm a Republican, I'm a businessman, cut taxes,'" he said. "He's got to demonstrate why he's different."
Granholm campaign spokesman Chris De Witt said poll numbers would fluctuate as the November election draws nearer.
"But it's clear that people realize Gov. Granholm has a plan to move our economy forward and has been personally leading the effort to bring jobs to the state," De Witt said. "Dick DeVos has no plan other than to criticize the governor and people aren't buying it."
Truscott said the DeVos was gaining because "people are finally starting to realize that Michigan is in a single-state recession. They are frustrated by the lack of leadership in Lansing and the fact that Michigan is continuing to fall behind."
The poll also showed Stabenow, a freshman Democrat, with 59 percent support in possible matchups with Republican ministers Keith Butler and Jerry Zandstra, whose support was in the low 30s. She also led Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard 54 percent to 36 percent.
Fifty-four percent gave Stabenow a positive job rating, while 34 percent gave her a negative rating and 12 percent were undecided.
Republican Attorney General Mike Cox beat Democrat Scott Bowen in a matchup, 49 percent to 32 percent, with 19 percent undecided. However, only 40 percent gave Cox a positive job rating, while 34 percent gave him a negative rating and 26 percent were undecided.
Two other Democrats, state Rep. Alexander Lipsey of Kalamazoo and attorney Amos Williams of Grosse Pointe, have said they're interested in getting the nomination. Attorney Geoffrey Fieger of Bloomfield Hills also has said he might run for attorney general.
There's certainly still hope for the GOP here. Long ways to go.
Isn't DeVos one of the founders of amway?
I'd like to see her get under 50 percent.
"Isn't DeVos one of the founders of amway?"
I believe he's the son of a founder.
Michigan must be in a coma.
If you're looking for character and leadership qualities, DeVos has them in spades.
Wasnt John Engler trailing right up until election day in 1990?
If the GOP can take back MI, PA, maybe IL, and hold on to OH, that would be a huge gain for the party, even if they lose some congressional seats.
Just the liberal enclaves, such as Wayne County.
She preaches the honeychile crap at least twice a week on Detroit area talk station WJR and gets softball questions and often "the floor" from the host......she NEVER takes questions from the callers! Neither do US Senators Stabenow or Levin.
Let's hope history can repeat itself.
Granholm is pandering to Detroit again today, vowing to veto a bill that would make a regional control for water rather than leave it up to the Detroit City Council, who, BTW, is hiking rates for the SUBURBS by 5.7% and giving the "poor" in Detroit the benefit of the doubt and NO increase.
I don't trust phone surveys. I wonder how many of the 'random' numbers started with 313?
"voters hold her less accountable than President Bush for Michigan's economic woes"
Just in case, the AP thought it would be nice to put that in the first sentence.
Free euthanasia for everyone!
YIPPEE!!!
Granholm kinda reminds me of Kevorkian...
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