New Poll: Economy & Romney Could be Factors in 2012

WXYZ-TV - The November 2012 general election for President is more than 14 months away!  Anyone who makes serious predictions about the outcome of that race this far in advance is either a political novice or someone who needs their head examined.  But looking at possible trends this far out is fun and fair game.  Just ask some savvy Lansing political pollsters.

The latest statewide poll conducted by EPIC MRA indicates that a whopping 75-percent of Michiganders believe America is on the wrong track. That’s an increase of 13-percent since a survey of 600 respondents was taken only one month ago. When asked specifically about Michigan’s economy, 40-percent said they think the economy has bottomed out and is starting to improve, 32-percent believe the economy is stagnant, and 25-percent think it could still get worse.

This pessimistic attitude is taking its toll on President Barack Obama. State residents are currently giving him a negative job performance rating of 65-percent. In July it was 60-percent.

If the election for President were being held today and Obama was running against former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, the incumbent President would lose 43-percent to 45-percent.  The only bright light for Obama is that his August match-up numbers against Romney, who grew up in Michigan, have improved since a February 2011 EPIC MRA poll.  At that time, the statewide survey had Romney beating Obama 46-percent to 41-percent.  This latest survey was conducted August 13 - 16. 

So, what does this all mean? Not a great deal at this point. Who knows what the see-saw U.S. economy will be doing 14 months from now? Who knows if Mitt Romney will be the GOP presidential nominee? But whoever wants to occupy the White House until 2016 would probably be wise to focus on job creation and get ready for a political race with lots of twists and turns. In politics, 14 months is a lifetime. To get overly excited or pessimistic at this stage of the game would be premature!