President Barack Obama now claims a 10-point lead in Michigan, according to the first public poll conducted in the state since each party’s convention.
In the latest survey from in-state pollster EPIC-MRA, conducted on behalf of the Detroit Free Press and local ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV and released Wednesday evening, Obama claims the support of 47 percent of likely Michigan voters, while Mitt Romney trails with the support of 37 percent. The previous release from EPIC-MRA — a snap poll conducted in late August — showed Obama clinging to a 3-point lead over Romney, 49 percent to 46 percent.
Polling in Michigan has been wildly divergent throughout the summer, with local firms often showing a dead heat and national pollsters typically showing Obama with a bit more breathing room, making it extremely difficult to get an accurate read on the race there. Wednesday’s poll comes on the heels of a survey conducted by Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling (PPP) immediately after the Republican National Convention, which showed Obama with a 7-point advantage over Romney in Michigan.
The findings of that PPP survey and Wednesday’s EPIC-MRA poll comport with expectations in the state. Although it is the former stomping ground of Romney, Michigan has been widely viewed as friendly territory to Obama, due to his administration’s successful restructuring of the U.S. automotive companies. The auto rescue figured prominently at last week’s Democratic National Convention, most notably in a fiery speech by former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm on the final night.
Obama currently boasts an 8.5-point lead over Romney in Michigan, according to the PollTracker Average, 48.2 percent to 39.7 percent.
