Schuette leads for AG

Event date: Saturday September 11, 2010
Event time: 01:18 AM

Republicans take lead for seats with less name recognition

KAREN BOUFFARD
Detroit News Lansing Bureau

Lansing -- Voters appear to favor Republicans over Democrats in less-known statewide races such as secretary of state and attorney general, according to a Detroit News/Local 4 WDIV poll released Thursday.

Still, the pool of undecided voters is large in the down-ticket races, which may mean GOP leads could evaporate once voters begin to focus on races beyond the contest for governor.

The 600 likely voters interviewed Tuesday and Wednesday by Glengariff Group Inc. favored Republicans over Democrats even in races with low name recognition for the candidates -- meaning the GOP may be the favored party this November, reflecting a nationwide trend.

The poll is the first since the parties held their state conventions where they nominated candidates for statewide races.

Michigan Republican Party chairman Ron Weiser said Republicans need to seize the whole ticket if they're to have the power they need to turn the state around.

"They are looking not only for a Republican governor but a Republican Legislature to pass a transformational agenda," he said.

Republican Bill Schuette leads Democrat David Leyton 43.2 percent to 34 percent in the race for attorney general, with 21.8 percent of voters undecided. Schuette's name was recognized by 43.5 percent of voters; and 23.5 percent said they had heard of Leyton.

For secretary of state, Republican Ruth Johnson leads Democrat Jocelyn Benson 43.5 percent to 31.3 percent, with 24.2 percent undecided. Johnson was known to 27.2 percent of those interviewed, and Benson to 21 percent.

"We're not concerned about poll numbers at this point," said John Tramontana, spokesman for the Michigan Democratic Party. "The campaigns are just getting into their stride.

"The only poll that matters is the one on Nov. 2."

In the Supreme Court races, GOP-endorsed incumbent Justice Robert Young leads Democrat-backed Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Denise Langford Morris, 21.2 percent to 16.3 percent. Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Mary Beth Kelly leads incumbent Justice Alton Davis, appointed to the court in late August by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, 22.5 percent to 14.3 percent.

Independent voters nationwide are tending to vote Republican this year, due largely to discontent over White House policies, said Craig Ruff, a senior fellow with Public Sector Consultants in Lansing. According to Ruff, the independents are the voters Democrats must woo if they hope to win in November -- and there's time to turn the poll numbers around.