Raleigh, N.C. – PPP’s latest Michigan poll finds Governor Rick Snyder’s approval waning at 38%, to 56% disapproval. At this point, any Democratic opponents that may step forward to challenge him are still mostly unknown. Representatives Gary Peters and Mark Schauer are seen as more unfavorable than favorable, 16/20 and 10/18 respectively, with the majority of voters not having an opinion either way, 64% and 72%. Lansing Mayor, Virg Bernero stood at 21/23 with 56% unsure, and state Senator Gretchen Whitmer was at 13-13 with 73% not sure. Democrats in the State Legislature are viewed favorably, 46/37, while the Republicans are seen unfavorably, 31/58. 32% say the Governor is “one tough nerd”, his self-described nickname, to 41% who do not.
In hypothetical head-to-heads for the 2014 Governorship, Rick Snyder should worry. Even though potential Democratic opponents are not well-known at this point, voters are clear about their distaste for Snyder. They preferred every single Democratic candidate tested against him, with Virg Bernero performing the best, 49/38. Peters and Whitmer scored well with 8-point net leads each to Snyder (47/39 and 46/38). Mark Schauer also came out strong, 44/39. If an election for state legislature were held today, the majority of voters would support their Democratic candidate 56/32.
Voters do not support the Right to Work legislation, 51/41, probably because Labor Unions are seen favorably in the state, 52/33. When asked how they would vote if there was a referendum on the law, 49% would reject it and 40% would approve it. 44% of voters support recalling the Governor, to 48% who do not, and 8% who are unsure.
Michigan voters approve of the job President Obama is doing 53/44.
“Just last month we were talking about how much Rick Snyder’s popularity had improved over the last year,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “In the last week he’s thrown that all away and now ranks as one of the most unpopular Governors in the country.”
PPP surveyed 650 Michigan voters from December 13th to 16th. The margin of error is +/-3.8 percentage points. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of President
Barack Obama’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 53%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 4%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor
Rick Snyder’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 38%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 56%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Virg Bernero?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 21%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 23%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 56%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Gary Peters?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 16%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 20%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 64%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Mark Schauer?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 10%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 18%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 72%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Gretchen Whitmer?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 13%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 13%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 73%
Q7 If the candidates for Governor in 2014 were
Republican Rick Snyder and Democrat Virg
Bernero, who would you vote for?
Rick Snyder ……………………………………………. 38%
Virg Bernero……………………………………………. 49%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 12%
Q8 If the candidates for Governor in 2014 were
Republican Rick Snyder and Democrat Gary
Peters, who would you vote for?
Rick Snyder ……………………………………………. 39%
Gary Peters…………………………………………….. 47%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q9 If the candidates for Governor in 2014 were
Republican Rick Snyder and Democrat Mark
Schauer, who would you vote for?
Rick Snyder ……………………………………………. 39%
Mark Schauer …………………………………………. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q10 If the candidates for Governor in 2014 were
Republican Rick Snyder and Democrat
Gretchen Whitmer, who would you vote for?
Rick Snyder ……………………………………………. 38%
Gretchen Whitmer……………………………………. 46%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%
Q11 Do you support or oppose the right-to-work
legislation passed in Michigan this week?
Support ………………………………………………….. 41%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 51%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%
Q12 If there was a referendum on the right-to-work
law, would you vote ‘yes’ to approve the law or
‘no’ to reject it?
Yes………………………………………………………… 40%
No …………………………………………………………. 49%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q13 Would you support or oppose recalling Rick
Snyder from office before his term is over?
Support ………………………………………………….. 44%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 48%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%
Q14 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Democrats in the Michigan legislature?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 46%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 37%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q15 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Republicans in the Michigan legislature?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 31%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 58%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q16 Generally speaking, if there was an election for
the state legislature today, would you vote for
the Democratic or Republican candidate from
your district?
Democratic candidate ………………………………. 56%
Republican candidate ………………………………. 32%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 12%
Q17 In general, do you have a favorable or
unfavorable opinion of labor unions?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 52%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 33%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%
Q18 Do you consider Rick Snyder to be ‘one tough
nerd’, or not?
He is ……………………………………………………… 32%
He is not…………………………………………………. 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 27%
Q19 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 11%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 19%
Moderate………………………………………………… 29%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 24%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 17%
Q20 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%
Q21 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 38%
Republican……………………………………………… 28%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 34%
Q22 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 79%
African-American …………………………………….. 14%
Other……………………………………………………… 7%
Q23 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45 years old, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If
you are older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 15%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 24%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 41%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
