(WXYZ) – An exclusive WXYZ-TV/Detroit News poll shows that no clear leader has yet emerged in the 2010 race for Michigan Governor.
The poll was conducted from May 18 through May 21. It sampled 400 people in each political party, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9%.
DAVE LEWALLEN BREAKS DOWN SOME OF THE NUMBERS IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ON THE RIGHTAmong Democrats, in an open-ended question without hearing the list of Democratic candidates, if the primary election were held today, the leading candidate would be Lieutenant Governor John Cherry, who is polling at 9%. The second most popular candidate is US Senator Debbie Stabenow, who polls at 5%, followed by Governor Jennifer Granholm at 3%. However, Governor Granholm is term-limited, and cannot run again. 81% say they are undecided.
If the primary were held today, and after respondents heard a list of candidates, things would be reversed among the top two candidates. The poll shows Stabenow leading Cherry 49% to 14%, with 26% undecided.
Among Republicans, in an open-ended question without hearing the list of Republican candidates, if the primary election were held today, the leading candidate would be US Congressman Pete Hoekstra, who is currently polling at 8%. He is followed by Attorney General Mike Cox, who is polling at 6%. 83% say they are currently undecided.
After hearing the list of potential Republican candidates, the Republican race heats up when voters are asked about the primary, with no clear leader visible. Both Hoekstra and Cox are within a point of each other in our poll, with Hoekstra leading 27% to 26%. Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land is polling third at 19%. 25% of Republicans say they are still undecided.
We also asked people about new Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, and whether they think he will bring change to the city. We found that 61% of people say they are optimistic that Bing will bring change to the city.
READ THE COMPLETE POLL RESULTS BELOW:Thinking about the Democratic gubernatorial primary election, based on what you know right now about the candidates who may likely run, if the election were held today, who would you vote for?
9% John Cherry
0.5% Bob Ficano
0.5% Andy Dillon
5% Debbie Stabenow
--- John Freeman
0.5% Alma Wheeler Smith
--- George Perles
0.5% Don Williamson
3% Jennifer Granholm
81% Undecided/Don’t Know/Refused
Now I would like to read the list of Democrats who have been mentioned as possible candidates for Governor. Of the following list of candidates, if the Democratic primary election were held today, which candidate would you vote for?
14% John Cherry
5% Bob Ficano
1% Andy Dillon
49% Debbie Stabenow
--- John Freeman
2% Alma Wheeler Smith
2% George Perles
1% Don Williamson
26% Undecided/Don’t Know/Refused
Which candidate would be your second choice in a Democratic primary election for Governor?
22% John Cherry
9% Bob Ficano
2% Andy Dillon
15% Debbie Stabenow
2% John Freeman
2% Alma Wheeler Smith
2% George Perles
2% Don Williamson
44% Undecided/Don’t Know/Refused
Thinking about the Republican gubernatorial primary election, based on what you know right now about the candidates who may likely run, if the election were held today, who would you vote for?
6% Mike Cox
2% Terri Lynn Land
8% Pete Hoekstra
--- Rick Snyder
--- Tom George
--- David Brandon
1% Dick Devos
--- Candice Miller
83% Undecided/Don’t Know/Refused
Now I would like to read the list of Republicans who have been mentioned as possible candidates for Governor. Of the following list of candidates, if the Republican primary election were held today, which candidate would you vote for?
26% Mike Cox
19% Terri Lynn Land
27% Pete Hoekstra
--- Rick Snyder
1% Tom George
2% David Brandon
25% Undecided/Don’t Know/Refused
Which candidate would be your second choice in a Republican primary election for Governor?
23% Mike Cox
24% Terri Lynn Land
12% Pete Hoekstra
1% Rick Snyder
4% Tom George
3% David Brandon
33% Undecided/Don’t Know/Refused
Now I would like to ask how you would vote in several possible general election matchups for Governor in the November 2010 election.
If the election for Governor were held today and the candidates were Mike Cox and John Cherry, would you vote for Mike Cox the Republican or John Cherry the Democrat?
36% Total Cherry
35% Total Cox
29% Undecided/Don’t Know/Refused
If the election for Governor were held today and the candidates were Terri Lynn Land and Bob Ficano, would you vote for Terri Lynn Land the Republican or Bob Ficano the Democrat?
30% Total Ficano
37% Total Land
33% Undecided/Don’t Know/Refused
If the election for Governor were held today and the candidates were Pete Hoekstra and Debbie Stabenow, would you vote for Pete Hoekstra the Republican or Debbie Stabenow the Democrat?
44% Total Stabenow
35% Total Hoekstra
21% Undecided/Don’t Know/Refused
If the election for Governor were held today and the candidates were Terri Lynn Land and John Cherry, would you vote for Terri Lynn Land the Republican or John Cherry the Democrat?
34% Total Cherry
35% Total Land
31% Undecided/Don’t Know/Refused
If the election for Governor were held today and the candidates were Mike Cox and Bob Ficano, would you vote for Mike Cox the Republican or Bob Ficano the Democrat?
30% Total Ficano
37% Total Cox
33% Undecided/Don’t know/Refused
If the election for Governor were held today and the candidates were Pete Hoekstra and John Cherry, would you vote for Pete Hoekstra the Republican or John Cherry the Democrat?
36% Total Cherry
33% Total Hoekstra
31% Undecided/Don’t know/Refused
If the election for Governor were held today and the candidates were Terri Lynn Land and Debbie Stabenow, would you vote for Terri Lynn Land the Republican or Debbie Stabenow the Democrat?
44% Total Stabenow
35% Total Land
21% Undecided/Don’t know/Refused
If the election for Governor were held today and the candidates were Pete Hoekstra and Bob Ficano, would you vote for Pete Hoekstra the Republican or Bob Ficano the Democrat?
34% Total Ficano
35% Total Hoekstra
31% Undecided/Don’t know/Refused
If the election for Governor were held today and the candidates were Mike Cox and Debbie Stabenow, would you vote for Mike Cox the Republican or Debbie Stabenow the Democrat?
43% Total Stabenow
35% Total Cox
22% Undecided/Don’t know/Refused
The City of Detroit has a new mayor with the election of Dave Bing. Are you optimistic that Dave Bing can improve things in Detroit, or, are you pessimistic and believe things in Detroit will remain the same and not improve?
61% Total Optimistic
26% Total Pessimistic
13% Undecided/Don’t know/Refused
In these difficult economic times, many people are proposing that there should be more regional cooperation between local units of government to save money and provide more and improved services. How much do you trust government leaders from other communities in your region of the state to fairly deal with your community as equal partners in providing services – do you completely trust other government leaders, mostly trust them, mostly distrust them, or completely distrust other government leaders in your regions?
49% Total Trust
45% Total Distrust
6% Undecided/Don’t know/Refused
