POLL: Stabenow holds lead over Hoekstra's close challenge

(WXYZ) - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow of Lansing, is holding firm in her bid to serve another term on Capitol Hill but former West Michigan Congressman Pete Hoekstra is still within striking distance to ruin her plans. 

In an exclusive WXYZ-TV/Detroit Free Press survey conducted  by EPIC MRA, 48 percent  to 42 percent  said they would re-elect Stabenow over Hoekstra, if the political contest were today.  

Stabenow supporters are taking comfort in knowing she isn’t slipping in the polls but Hoekstra supporters are energized that Stabenow is still below capturing more than 50 percent of the vote. 

Also in the race is Detroit attorney and educator Clark Durant. 

“Barring something dramatic happening, this is Hoekstra’s  race to lose on the Republican side of the fence,” said Lansing pollster Bernie Porn. 

Out of the 600 people surveyed statewide, 51 percent would vote for Stabenow vs. 31 percent who would vote for Durant, if the two battled each other next November. Durant’s biggest problem is that he has little name recognition.  Sixty-one percent of the respondents did not know who he was. In an October survey, 71 percent didn’t recognize his name.

The poll was conducted November 13 – 16 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.

COMPLETE POLL RESULTS

I would like to read the names of several political figures. For each one, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of that person. If you do not recognize a name, please tell me and we can move on.

Debbie Stabenow -

November:

• Do Not Recognize – 1%
• Favorable – 47%
• Unfavorable – 39&
• Undecided – 13%

October:

• Do Not Recognize – 3%
• Favorable – 50%
• Unfavorable – 39%
• Undecided – 11%

Pete Hoekstra -

November:

• Do Not Recognize – 23%
• Favorable -26%
• Unfavorable – 17%
• Undecided – 34%

October:

• Do Not Recognize – 22%
• Favorable – 30%
• Unfavorable – 21%
• Undecided – 27%

Clark Durant -

November:

• Do Not Recognize – 61%
• Favorable - 4%
• Unfavorable – 11%
• Undecided – 24%

October:

• Do Not Recognize – 71%
• Favorable – 6%
• Unfavorable – 10%
• Undecided – 13%

How would you rate the job Debbie Stabenow has done as Michigan United States Senator – would you give her a positive rating of excellent or pretty good, or a negative rating of just fair or poor?

November 2011:

• Positive – 41%
• Negative – 52%

October 2011:

• Positive – 40%
• Negative – 52%

August 2011:

• Positive – 37%
• Negative – 54%

If the election for US Senator 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?

November 2011:

• Stabenow – 48%
• Hoekstra – 42%

August 2011:

• Stabenow – 47%
• Hoekstra – 38%

February 2011:

• Stabenow – 44%
• Hoekstra – 42%

If the election for US Senator were held today and the candidates were Clarke Durant and Debbie Stabenow, would you vote for Clark Durant the Republican or Debbie Stabenow the Democrat?

November 2011:

• Stabenow – 51%
• Durant – 31%