In December, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) looked shaky heading into her 2012 reelection bid. One poll found her barely leading a slate of potential Republican challengers. But now, Stabenow’s poll numbers have rebounded: a new PPP poll shows her leading her potential rivals by double-digits.
That turnaround comes at the same time that Michigan’s new Republican Governor, Rick Snyder, has seen his approval rating slide, after his push for a controversial proposal that would give him the authority to appoint emergency managers in struggling cities, a proposal one supporter likened to “financial martial law.”
Three months ago, PPP found Stabenow leading Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R) by just one point. She now leads that match up 50% to 38%. Stabenow has also increased her lead over Secretary of State Terri Land, from four to 10 points, and PPP found her leading in that hypothetical contest 48% to 38%.
Stabenow also topped former state GOP chair Saul Anuzis 52% to 35%, and led political neophyte Randy Hekman 52% to 33%. Neither Anuzis or Hekman were tested in PPP’s December poll, though Hekman has since officially declared his candidacy.
Michigan voters elected Snyder last year by an 18-point margin. However, a PPP poll released this week pegged Snyder’s approval rating at 33% — and it showed him losing a do-over election by two points.
Polls have also shown a similar shift in Ohio, where rising disapproval of Republican Gov. John Kasich coincided with surging support for Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown.
The Michigan PPP poll was conducted March 18-20 among 502 registered voters. It has a margin of error of 4.1%.
