EXCLUSIVE SURVEY: Inching closer to Michigan's general election

Michigan's General Election is scheduled for Nov. 6.

Ahead of election day The Glengariff Group, Inc. conducted a 600-sample survey of likely 2012 Michigan General Election voters. 

The live operator telephone survey was conducted from October 6 - 8, 2012) (The survey was conducted from Saturday afternoon through Monday evening.)  80% of the survey respondents were contact via land-line.  20% of survey respondents were contacted via cell phone.  The survey has a margin of error of +/-4.0% with a 95% level of confidence.  This survey was commissioned by WDIV Local 4, the Detroit News.

Generally speaking would you say the nation is on the right track or would you say things have gotten off on the wrong track?

A closer look:

                        Right    Wrong

N Mich            25.6%  62.8%

W Mich            43.3%  46.3% 

SW Mich         36.0%  60.0%

Mid Mich         34.6%  55.8% 

E Central          40.4%  53.2%

Oakland           30.4%  58.2%

Macomb          28.0%  58.0%

Wayne             37.1%  62.9%

Detroit              75.0%  7.5%

If the election for President of the United States were held today and Barack Obama was the Democratic candidate and Mitt Romney was the Republican candidate, would you vote for Mitt Romney or Barack Obama to be President of the United States? 

A closer look:

Barack Obama

                    Favorable         No Opinion      Unfavorable     

N Mich            33.3%              11.5%              55.1%                         

W Mich            59.7%              1.5%                38.8%

SW Mich         48.0%              4.0%                48.0%

Mid Mich         46.2%              7.7%                46.2%

E Central          59.6%              4.3%                36.2%

Oakland           39.2%              8.9%                50.6%

Macomb          34.0%              14.0%              52.0% 

Wayne             47.1%              5.7%                47.1%

Detroit              97.5%              2.5%                0.0%

Mitt Romney

            Favorable         No Opinion      Unfavorable      Never

N Mich            44.9%              15.4%              39.7%                         

W Mich            37.3%              7.5%                55.2% 

SW Mich         42.0%              12.0%              46.0% 

Mid Mich         42.3%              13.5%              44.2% 

E Central          29.8%              12.8%              57.4% 

Oakland           53.2%              6.3%                39.2%             

Macomb          52.0%              8.0%                40.0%

Wayne             45.7%              10.0%              42.9%

Detroit              2.5%                12.5%              80.0%

Did you watch all or part of the first Presidential debate held on Wednesday night?

Yes  76.0%

No 24.0%

Would you say that Mitt Romney or Barack Obama won the debate?

Barack Obama           14.0%

Mitt Romney              66.0%

Draw/ Both Equal       11.6% 

Don’t Know/ Not Sure  8.1%

The Vice Presidential debate is going to be held on Thursday evening.  How important will that debate be in determining how you vote?  Very important, somewhat important, not very important or not important at all?

Which candidate for President do you think would do a better job of handling our nation’s economy, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney? 

Obama   45.2%

Romney   45.3%

Both the same  1.0%

Neither            4.8%

Which candidate for President do you think would do a better job of handling our nation’s foreign affairs, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?

Obama                       50.0%

Romney                     39.7%

Both the same               1.3%

Neither                         4.5%

Don’t Know                  4.5%

Which candidate for President do you think would do a better job understanding your values, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?

Obama 48.3%

Romney    39.5%

Both the same   1.8%   

Neither             7.0%

Do you think changes need to be made to the Medicare program to keep it sustainable for the future, or do you think it will survive in the future if we leave it basically as it is?

Need changes              71.3%

Will be fine as it is 18.7%

Don’t Know                 10.0%

And which strategy do you support for Medicare?   Would you say we need to maintain the current system of benefits or should benefits be a fixed amount of money that help people purchase coverage. 

Current system of benefits 45.0%

Fixed amount of money        21.8%

Don’t Know                        32.2%

When it comes to choosing candidates for office, how important is their position on Medicare to you?  Would you say it is extremely important, somewhat important, somewhat not important or not important at all?

Extremely important      40.8%

Somewhat important      46.3%

Somewhat not important  7.8%

Not important at all          4.2%

If the election for United States Senator was held today and Debbie Stabenow was the Democratic candidate and Pete Hoekstra was the Republican candidate, would you vote for Pete Hoekstra or Debbie Stabenow to be United States Senator for Michigan? 

Definitely Stabenow 42.3%

Probably Stabenow       5.8%

Lean Stabenow             2.0%

Definitely Hoekstra      29.7%

Probably Hoekstra        6.0%

Lean Hoekstra             1.8%

Undecided                  11.5%

A closer look:

Debbie Stabenow

                        Favorable        No Opinion     Unfavorable    Never

N Mich            39.7%              21.8%              38.5%              0.0%   

W Mich           50.7%              13.4%              31.3%              4.5%   

SW Mich         26.0%              22.0%              42.0%              8.0%

Mid Mich        50.0%              15.4%              34.6%              0.0%

E Central         57.4%              17.0%              25.5%              0.0%   

Oakland          39.2%              8.9%                49.4%              2.5%

Macomb          34.0%              26.0%              40.0%              0.0%

Wayne             37.1%              21.4%              38.6%              2.9%

Detroit             77.5%              10.0%              5.0%                7.5%

Pete Hoekstra

                       Favorable        No Opinion     Unfavorable    Never

N Mich            26.9%              43.6%              23.1%              6.4%   

W Mich           38.8%              11.9%              46.3%              3.0%   

SW Mich         30.0%              26.0%              24.0%              18.0%

Mid Mich        30.8%              38.5%              28.8%              1.9%

E Central         27.7%              14.9%              36.2%              21.3%

Oakland          36.7%              26.6%              21.5%              15.2% 

Macomb          26.0%              42.0%              26.0%              6.0%

Wayne             37.1%              22.9%              18.6%              21.4%

Detroit             2.5%                20.0%              50.0%              27.5%