Gov. Rick Snyder (R-MI)
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder maintains a razor-thin lead over Democratic challenger Mark Schauer in the latest poll from Public Policy Polling. Snyder leads Schauer by 43 percent to 42 percent, with third-party candidates drawing six percent. But while the Republican incumbent has the edge, it's not hard to see where his weaknesses lie:
Snyder finds himself in trouble after winning by an overwhelming margin in 2010 because several of his major accomplishments have proven to be very unpopular. Voters say by a 48/36 margin that they would vote to repeal the right to work law if it was on the ballot. And they oppose the increase in pension taxes that's been highlighted in early campaign ads by a 74/17 spread. One thing that may be helping to keep Snyder afloat is the popularity of Medicaid expansion in the state--five months after it took effect voters support the 'Healthy Michigan' program by 24 points, 50/26. That's one issue where Snyder is winning some favor across party lines.
Looking at these numbers (aside from Medicaid), it's no wonder 51 percent of voters disapprove of the job Snyder is doing, while just 43 percent approve.
Voters also support raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour by a 58 percent to 34 percent margin; Snyder and legislative Republicans passed a smaller minimum wage increase in May to keep a $10.10 minimum wage off of November's ballot.
So Snyder's big popular achievement is Medicaid expansion—in other words, Snyder signing onto Obamacare. Voters probably also like the minimum wage increase he signed—but he signed that only to prevent a popular vote on the $10.10 an hour that has 58 percent support. In other words, Snyder's lead, tiny as it is, is propped up by the Democratic policies he's embraced. The big items on the Snyder agenda, voters dislike.
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