Analysis
This is another poll driven article with some polling data provided by two companies, EPIC/MRA and Research 2000. In both cases no details or methodology are provided. The article does state that the polling was conducted for numerous media outlets, but doesn’t specify if these news organizations paid for the poll to be conducted. The focus is on the Michigan Governor’s race and even mentions the 3 candidates that have not received any news coverage from the Grand Rapids Press. Why run polling data, but not report on these candidates? The only sources cited are the campaign spokespersons for DeVos and Granholm and the only issues mentioned were the economy and the Single Business Tax.
Article Text
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Slightly more voters say in a new poll that they trust Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm rather than GOP challenger Dick DeVos to do what is right to improve Michigan’s economy, while significantly more say she better understands their needs and concerns.
The poll of 600 likely voters released Thursday by Lansing-based EPIC-MRA showed 48 percent said they’d vote for Granholm, while 43 percent said they’d vote for DeVos and 7 percent were undecided. Gregory Creswell of the Libertarian Party and Douglas Campbell of the Green Party each were backed by 1 percent, while Bhagwan “Bob” Dashairya of the U.S. Taxpayers Party got less than 1 percent.
The poll was conducted Sunday through Wednesday for The Detroit News and TV stations WXYZ in Southfield, WOOD in Grand Rapids, WILX in Lansing and WJRT in Flint. It had a sampling error margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
In a Research 2000 poll conducted Monday and Tuesday for the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune, Granholm led DeVos 50 percent to 40 percent, with 7 percent undecided and 3 percent choosing “other.” The Research 2000 poll surveyed 600 likely voters statewide and had a sampling error margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
In polls conducted earlier this month, Granholm had an 8- or 9-point lead over DeVos.
In the latest EPIC-MRA poll, 46 percent said they trusted Granholm to improve the economy, while 41 percent said they trusted DeVos, 1 percent said both, 6 percent said neither and 6 percent were undecided.
Asked which candidate better understands their needs, 48 percent chose Granholm, 37 percent chose DeVos, 6 percent said neither, 1 percent said both and 8 percent were undecided.
Half of the voters said they knew more about Granholm’s plan as governor than about what DeVos would do, while 32 percent said they knew more about DeVos’ plans.
Granholm campaign manager Chris De Witt said voters like what the governor is doing.
“The poll shows that voters understand that Gov. Granholm puts Michigan first and DeVos puts his own interests first. Voters aren’t buying what DeVos is selling,” De Witt said.
DeVos campaign manager John Truscott said the poll shows the Republican’s message is getting through.
“We have said all along that this should be close, we would close the gap at the end, and it would be a tough battle against an incumbent using all the levers of power to keep her seat,” Truscott said. “And that’s exactly how it’s shaping up.”
DeVos supports the repeal of the state’s Single Business Tax and has said he would replace at least half of the $1.9 billion the tax annually brings in with another business tax. Granholm wants a new business tax that would replace the entire amount.
Asked to consider a possible $1 billion revenue cut, 63 percent in the EPIC-MRA poll said they thought it would require cuts in essential programs and services, while 18 percent said that amount could be cut without affecting such programs. Nineteen percent were undecided.
Granholm continued to get thumbs down on her job performance from a majority of those polled, with 58 percent giving her a negative rating, 40 percent a positive rating and 2 percent undecided.
But more people have a favorable opinion of her than of DeVos.
Half said they had a favorable opinion of the governor, while 43 percent had an unfavorable opinion and 7 percent were undecided. Forty percent had a favorable opinion of DeVos, while 48 percent had an unfavorable opinion and 12 percent were undecided.
Asked how they felt about President Bush, 40 percent had a favorable opinion, 55 percent had a negative opinion and 4 percent were undecided. Thirty-two percent gave him a positive job rating, while 66 percent gave him a negative rating and 2 percent were undecided.
Asked if they would prefer to see Republicans retain control of Congress or Democrats take control, 51 percent backed Democrats, while 37 percent preferred Republicans and 12 percent were undecided.
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