Poll: Snyder Sees Boost in Approval Rating
Lansing— Michiganians are more optimistic about the state economy, and Gov. Rick Snyder's approval ratings are on the rise, according to results of a poll released Monday.
The statewide poll of 600 respondents taken in Jan. 19-21 showed a 7 percent increase since June in the number of people who gave Snyder the highest approval ratings. The poll was conducted by the bi-partisan Lambert, Edwards & Associates public relations firm and Denno Research.
The high approval rating grew to 35 percent from 28 percent on a similar poll conducted by the firm in June, according to T.J. Bucholz, director of public affairs with Lambert, Edwards. Among Democrats, Snyder's high numbers improved by 8 points and his negatives went down by 9 points.
"His low was 25 percent, (and) his low six months ago was 30 percent, so much of that number has moved up that continuum," Bucholz said. "So Snyder has moved the needle on public opinion.
"We're seeing that among Democrats and among independents, too."
In other results, a majority of voters polled — 56 percent — said they think the state's economy is starting to turn around. That's up 14 percentage points from the June poll and might help to explain why Snyder's numbers look better in 2012. The biggest increase was among Republicans, with 61 percent thinking Michigan's economy is turning around, up 23 percent from June.
President Barack Obama's high number was 39 percent, only 1 percentage point better than the previous poll taken in June.
The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
A majority of Republican voters were still undecided on their choice for the GOP presidential primary, at 34 percent. After undecided, Romney led the vote total with 29 percent, followed by Gingrich at 19 percent and Santorum at 12 percent. The question — only given to likely Michigan GOP voters — was asked before Gingrich won the GOP primary in South Carolina.
Asked which man would be the weakest candidate to face Obama, Democrats said they'd want the president to face Gingrich or Ron Paul in November; each received 25 percent of the Democratic vote. Romney and Santorum each got 12 percent of the vote when Democrats were asked who would be the "weakest" challenger to face the president.
Since a smaller sample of respondents was asked the presidential candidate questions, that raised the margin of error to plus or minus 7 percentage points.
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