Exclusive poll shows most don't think of Mitt Romney as a Michigander

(WXYZ) - If Mitt Romney is counting on his famous Michigan name and roots to help him win next Tuesday’s Republican Presidential Primary, he better have a Plan B.  

In an exclusive WXYZ/Detroit Free Press poll conducted by Epic MRA for our statewide media partners, 57-percent of those polled said they “do not think of Mitt Romney as a native Michigander.”   Thirty-eight percent do think of him as a Michigander. 

Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts  governor was born and raised in Oakland County.  His father, George, was the 43rd Governor of Michigan from 1963 – 1969, and served as Chairman and CEO of the old American Motors Corporation from 1954 to 1962.

Among voters who associate Mitt Romney with Michigan, he leads former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum 48 – 29 percent, but trails Santorum among voters who don’t think of him as a Michigan native 42 – 24 percent.  “If you really drill down on the numbers, the momentum is with Rick Santorum,” said Channel 7 pollster and Epic MRA President Bernie Porn.

Overall, our survey of 400 people likely to vote in the Republican primary gives Santorum the edge over Romney in Michigan 37 – 34 percent.  

But with a 4.9 percent (plus/minus) margin of error, the race in Michigan is too close to call. 

In recent weeks, thousands of dollars have been spent on media advertising attack ads between the top two candidates. But the impact of that advertising may be cancellng itself out. 

Sixty-one percent of those supporting Romney said they weren’t influenced by the commercials and 70 percent of Santorum supporters said they weren’t influenced by the ads. 

However, 30 percent of the people backing Romney say they were moved by the ads compared to 11 percent who were originally Santorum supporters. 

In Florida, Romney out spent Newt Gingrich 20 to 1 to defeat the former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives but in Michigan, Romney is only outspending Santorum 2 to 1.

And finally, when respondents were asked if they were satisfied with their GOP presidential choices, 51- percent said “yes”, 46-percent said “no”, and 3-percent were undecided.

The poll was conducted February 18 –21. 

READ THE COMPLETE POLL RESULTS BELOW:

Knowing that Mitt Romney was born and raised in Michigan, his late father was Governor of Michigan, but he was elected Governor of Massachusetts and is wealthy enough to have homes in several states, do you think of Mitt Romney as a native Michigander, or not?

38% Yes, thinks of Romney as a native Michigander
57% No, do not think of Romney as a native Michigander
5% Undecided/Refused

Did the campaign TV ads run by Mitt Romney and his supporters make you more likely to vote for Romney, less likely to vote for him, or, did his TV ads not influence your vote one way or the other?

61% Won’t really influence voters one way or the other
30% TOTAL LESS LIKELY ROMNEY
4% TOTAL MORE LIKELY ROMNEY
5% Undecided/Refused

Did the campaign TV ads run by Rick Santorum and his supporters make you more likely to vote for Santorum, less likely to vote for him, or, did his TV ads not influence your vote one way or the other?

70% Won’t really influence voters one way or the other
12% TOTAL MORE LIKELY SANTORUM
11% TOTAL LESS LIKELY SANTORUM
7% Undecided/Refused

Are you satisfied with the choices you have in this election, or, are you dissatisfied with the choices and wish other candidates had run?

51% TOTAL SATISFIED
46% TOTAL DISSATISFIED
3% Undecided/Refused

In the end, which candidate do you think will win the nomination?

56% Mitt Romney
23% Rick Santorum
3% Ron Paul
2% Newt Gingrich
17% Undecided/Refused