May 29, 2012 at 3:32 pm
Poll: Obama has wide lead over Romney in Michigan
By David Shepardson
Detroit News Washington Bureau
Washington— A new poll shows President Barack Obama retains a solid lead in Michigan over Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney.
The Public Policy Polling survey of 500 Michigan voters shows Obama leads Romney 53 percent to 39 percent, which is little changed from PPP's last poll of the state in February when Obama's advantage was 54 percent to 38 percent.
The poll also found just 24 percent of voters consider him to be a Michiganian, compared with 65 percent who do not. Romney is a Detroit native who lived until he was 18 years old in Michigan and graduated from Cranbrook. But on the campaign trail he has referred to Massachusetts as his "home state" where he served as governor and has lived nearly all of his adult life.
Just 35 percent of Michigan voters have a favorable opinion of Romney compared to 57 percent with a negative view. Obama's approval rating is at a record high in PPP's polling in Michigan with 53 percent of voters giving him good marks to 41 percent who disapprove. Obama's approval rating among independents in Michigan is 50 percent to 43 percent.
In Michigan, 55 percent think the president has been better for the automotive industry in the state to only 31 percent who say Romney wins out on that front. Obama has touted his decision to save General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC as part of an $85 billion auto bailout, while castigating Romney for not supporting aid to the auto industry absent an immediate bankuptcy filing in late 2008.
Obama is winning over 13 percent of Michigan Republican voters while losing just 7 percent of Democrats, and he also has a strong advantage with independents at 48 percent to 36 percent. Obama also is winning among women by a 58 percent to 34 percent margin and has a 10-point lead with white voters at 50 percent to 40 percent.
The poll also found that if Romney added Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to the ticket, it wouldn't boost his chances. With Snyder on a hypothetical ticket, Obama's lead expands slightly to 53 percent to 38 percent. The poll found just 37 percent of Michigan voters approving of Snyder's job performance as governor to 52 percent who disapprove.
The poll noted that much was made during the Michigan primary about Romney's repeated comments about the state's trees being "the right height." Only 38 percent of Michigan voters express the sentiment their trees are the right height while 8 percent think they are not and 55 percent are unsure. Democrats — 48 percent — are more likely to express agreement with Romney on that front than Republicans are — 34 percent.
No Republican candidate for president has carried Michigan since 1988.
The survey was conducted Thursday through Sunday and has a margin of error of 4.4 percent. Tha automated telephone poll was not paid for by any campaign or political organization, Public Policy Polling said in a news release. Among respondents, 38 percent identified themselves as Democrat, 28 percent Republican and 34 percent independent or other.
dshepardson@detnews.com
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120529/POLITICS01/205290402#ixzz1wIOpG9Qv
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