Voters unhappy about state's outlook (Granholm 43%; DeVos 41%)

Lansing State Journal ^ | 3/24/06

[LdSentinal]

Michigan voters are in a foul mood and overwhelmingly pessimistic about the state's prospects, according to a poll released Wednesday.

Three of four voters believe Michigan is headed in the wrong direction - that's the highest number recorded since Marketing Resource Group of Lansing started asking the question twice a year in 1985.

Six months ago, 62 percent said the state was headed in the wrong direction.

"It's the worst that we've ever seen," said MRG pollster Paul King. Voters "see things as really bad, and they don't see it getting better."

The poll of 600 registered voters was conducted March 13 to March 17 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

King said voter unrest usually spells bad news for incumbents. In the poll, Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm held a slight lead, 43 percent to 41 percent, over her GOP rival, businessman Dick DeVos.

Granholm campaign spokesman Chris DeWitt acknowledged voters are restive.

"Clearly the people in the state of Michigan are hurting and concerned about the state of the state," he said.

King said every single voter in his survey identified the economy or jobs as the most important problem facing the state, eclipsing education, the environment and crime and the rest of the usual concerns.

Michigan's grim outlook is no surprise to Kevin Eedy, a bartender at Kelly's in downtown Lansing. Eedy said he is pretty upbeat about the future. At 49, Eedy has lived through several downturns and, despite auto-related woes around Lansing, thinks this one has been mild.

"But I know a lot of people are upset. ... I hear it every day. I think it's a combination ... the economy, Iraq, partisanship," he said. "Some people are just angry, angry, angry."

[Clemenza]

If Devos brings his Amway charm to the voters, he can send Ms. Granholm back to Canada. He needs to bring a message to the voters that he can keep Michigan from being a has-been state, ie de-socializing its economy.

[quantim]

We're on the case!

[Clemenza]

Michigan remains stuck economically in the mid-70s, ie the time of "malaise." Such a sad situation for such a beautiful state (outside of the pits of Detroit, Flint, and Benton Harbor).

[quantim]

Even the union rats realize Granholm's constant vetos against business and taxpayers has consequences.

[quantim]

[Poincare]

What's happening with the Senate race. Did Libby Dole force out the popular black conservative for the checked pants rino?

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

vetoing the abolishment of the Single Business Tax will turn LOTS more voters against her than there are SB owners.

[Tzimisce]

Well you voted liberal Democrat up there time and time and time again. Now you think you're going to get rid of them?

You ever tried to get rid of cockroaches?

Bend over, this might pinch a little....

[eleni121]

I hope they can get rid of the Granholm creature.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Are we not men? We are DeVos!

[apackof2]

LOL!

[sarasmom]

Let the citizens of Michigan vote to secede from the USA, and join Canada.
They are socialists, and I am tired of carrying them.
I promise the Southern states will not fight to keep them in the "union".

[MIDad23]

Canada may be trying to join Michigan. Our mall parking lots are jammed with Ontario plates.

[eleni121]

Just did a quick search on things there and the Dems are getting really nasty...like really nasty...organized crime style nasty.

Here's hoping DeVos and crew can manhandle the Dem thugs.

[Old-Retired-Trucker]

"Clearly the people in the state of Michigan are hurting and concerned about the state of the state," he said.
King said every single voter in his survey identified the economy or jobs as the most important problem facing the state, eclipsing education, the environment and crime and the rest of the usual concerns.

Yes, the people in Michigan are hurting and are concerned, as well they should be!
GM has announced that on "Black Tuesday" (next Tuesday) 30,000 jobs will be gone. There are a lot of GM/UAW workers that now understand that job security really means doing the job you are PAID to do and to quit trying to get more and more and more.
As I have said before, GM means Gone to Mexico, and UAW means Unemployed Auto Workers.
Most of the engineering jobs that are leaving are going "overseas", according to tonight's news.
"Overseas" means that American workers won't be employed.
That means that the businesses that support them won't be doing that anymore.
That means that the tax base from Income Tax will be reduced.
Without a good tax base, there will be a reduction in services we ALL take for granted. When the Police and Fire Departments don't have enough people and equipment to work effectively, Arson, and all other crimes will increase in the cities, then spread to the countryside when there is nothing left of the cities.
Doomsday predictions? Maybe. I hope that the American People wake up and get RID of the politicians who think we can give away all of our hard earned money AND our jobs.
This all leads to the softening of our laws and attitudes toward people that are NOT of, from and for THIS country. We Americans are going to have to take a stand and fight for what we have. Call it Protectionism, Isolationism, whatever, but for God's sake, lets keep America strong for Americans, not those of foreign nationalists and CERTAINLY not for illegal aliens!

[quantim]

Michigan remains stuck economically in the mid-70s,

It's more of a 'purple state' if you will.  MI sports both the best and worse of America. We have Detroit, the nation's biggest cancer.  We have foreign borders, we have the Great Lakes, incredible manufacturing capacity, the list goes own.

We also have the nation's HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT but ONLY in BLUE AREAS. (Forgive shout).  On Detroit's suburbs the growth is ugly, can't get get enough stinkin' employees to build all the new homes, roads cannot keep up, ad nauseum - the growth is explosive in one of the richest areas of the nation.

And yet it can be canned as a blue state.  Dregs can vote, too.

[sarasmom]

You should venture furthor south.
Florida highways and parking lots are jammed with Canadian plates.

[A message]

There are comic book stores all around the outskirts of Detroit but none in the city.

Some of the best comic retailers are in Novi, Canton Township and Redford.

One of the best comic stores in the country is in Kalamazoo.

And the people in Grand Rapids and Lansing are very nice.

Too bad ya'll can't rid yourself of the blue areas.

[Lancey Howard]

Our mall parking lots are jammed with Ontario plates.

I understand that hospital parking lots also have a lot of Canadian plates.