People who remember me or
my blog, Blast Off!, from the old days (like, 2004) may recall that I moved back to Florida from Michigan about two and a half years ago. In fact, my political renaissance actually occurred in Michigan, where I was a lead volunteer for the
Howard Dean Meetups in 2003-04. So, I like to check back periodically to see how things are going up in the Great Lakes State.
Besides Michigan State finally firing their ineffective football coach today, the big news is that Gov. Jennifer Granholm has widened her lead over GOP challenger Dick "Dick" DeVos, according to a new poll. She's now over that critical 50% mark with a 52-42 lead, up from 48-43 in the last poll.
Check out the garbage analysis from the pollster, though ... below the fold.
Pollster Ed Sarpolus reports, however, if you add the undecided voters who are expected to move to DeVos the race is actually a four point lead for the incumbent.
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Sarpolus says DeVos has failed to connect with voters on the trust and likeability scale as his unfavorable ratings are higher than President George W. Bush. Granholm has a 25 point lead with the all important independent voters, 53 percent to 28 percent. She wins the female vote 57 percent to 40 percent but DeVos is within six point of her with male voters.
Just to clarify, Sarpolus is saying that not only will undecideds break for the Republican (in a year when anti-Republican sentiment is peaking - anti-incumbency notwithstanding), but
all of the undecideds "are expected to move to DeVos." If he were writing this here, we'd all say, "Got a cite for that assertion, there, Skippy?"
This purported rush of undecideds for DeVos is predicted even though DeVos is even less trusted and well-liked than the First Dry Drunk, and even though Gov. Granholm has a 25 point lead with independents.
Back to the drawing board, Ed. You got some 'splainin' to do.
(Cross-posted to Blast Off!)