Poll Shows Snyder Trails Democrat In Bid For Re-Election

LANSING (WWJ) - A poll of the Michigan gubernatorial race shows that former Democratic Congressman Mark Schauer is leading incumbent Rick Snyder by four points.

Tom Jensen with Public Policy Polling says Schauer has just a 38 percent name recognition in the state --- but his lead is mainly because Snyder continues to be one of the most unpopular governors in the country.

"Any Democrat who is pitted against him regardless of how well-known they are will probably be starting out with a little bit, at least with a modest advantage against him. And I think what that speaks to is really the fact that Snyder needs to rehabilitate his image over the next 17 months if he's going to get re-elected as governor."

Jensen says a lot of Snyder's disapproval rating has to do with his passage of the right-to-work law.

"Almost six months now after the right-to work law passed - that it continues to be pretty unpopular - only 40 percent of the voters in this state support it - 50 percent are opposed. Those numbers are almost identical to what we found in December and it was when that right-to-work legislation passed that Snyder's numbers really started going downhill and so far nothing has turned them around."

"Rick Snyder continues to be one of the most unpopular governors in the country. He only has a 40 percent approval rating, 52 percent of voters disapprove of him. And that's why Schauer is starting out with a small lead," Jensen said.

Public Policy Polling was formed to measure and track public opinion in an affordable way.