POLL: Romney leads Michigan GOP, McCotter least known

(WXYZ) - If it were up to Michigan alone, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney would square off against President Barack Obama on November 6, 2012.

In a new EPIC MRA poll conducted August 13 – 16, Romney leads the pack of Republican presidential wannabees with 32-percent of the potential vote, followed by Texas Governor Rick Perry with 17-percent, and Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachman with 12-percent.

Out of the 11 candidates polled by the 600 respondents, Romney, who grew up in Michigan is clearly the most popular candidate as well. Seventy percent of the people who intend to vote in the Michigan closed presidential primary have a favorable impression of the man whose father was Michigan’s 43rd governor from 1963 – 1969.

Bachman had the second highest favorable rating at 58-percent, followed by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin with 51-percent. According to Bernie Porn, EPIC MRA President, “Name recognition in Michigan strongly helps Romney, internet exposure helps Perry, and winning the Iowa straw polled coupled with her Tea Party support really helps Bachman.”

Perhaps the most surprising number in the statewide survey was Michigan Congressman Thaddeus McCotter’s lack of popularity. Only 7-percent had a favorable opinion of the Livonia representative and nearly half of those polled didn’t recognize his name.

“It’s probably time for Congressman McCotter to think seriously if he wants to keep running for president,” said Porn who also polls for Channel 7.

The Michigan closed presidential primary will be held on February 28, 2011. To participate, voters will have to declare they are GOP voters. This latest EPIC MRA poll has a 4-percent plus or minus margin of error.