POLL: Stabenow leads Hoekstra, Michigan on wrong track

(WXYZ) - If the race for one of Michigan’s U.S. Senate seats were held today, incumbent Debbie Stabenow would win but not without looking over her shoulder at the competition. A new EPIC MRA poll has Lansing Democrat Stabenow stretching her lead over former West Michigan Republican Congressman Pete Hoekstra by 9 points, 47-percent to 38-percent. In a February 2011 survey, Stabenow was beating Hoekstra by only two points, 44-percent to 42-percent. In both polls, a little less than one-fifth of the 600 statewide respondents claimed they were undecided.

According to Channel 7 pollster Bernie Porn, Senator Stabenow has “done a good job ramping up her visibility this year and using her important position on the Senate Agriculture Committee to stay ahead in the race. However, she is still vulnerable until she gets her number of supporters above 50-percent.”

When the people polled were asked about Stabenow’s job performance as a U.S. Senator, 54-percent gave her a negative rating compared to 37-percent who said she was doing a good job. Stabenow’s disapproval number was up 3 points from a survey taken in July 2011.

Stabenow’s weakness is in Western and Northern Michigan and among pro-life voters. Her greatest political strength is in Southeast and Central Michigan and among women, African Americans, pro-choice, Catholic, and union voters.

Of course, this potential matchup with Hoekstra only holds up if he wins the Republican primary. A GOP challenge from Detroit attorney Clark Durant and others could dampen Hoekstra’s chances. Hoekstra’s lack of support from Michigan’s wealthy DeVos family could also cut into his ability to raise necessary funds to seriously challenge Stabenow.

The survey also found that 54-percent of Michiganders believe the state’s economy is on the wrong track and that a solid majority of 62-percent don’t approve of the way Governor Rick Snyder’s is doing his job. “People like him personally but are upset with his budget cuts into areas important to their lives,” said Lansing-based, EPIC MRA polling president, Bernie Porn. The statewide poll was conducted August 13 – 16.