Poll: Snyder Leads Big In Gov's Race

There's a new poll out on the Michigan Governor's race, and it shows Republican Rick Snyder with a huge lead over Democrat Virg Bernero. 

But, WWJ Lansing Bureah Chief Tim Skubick says Bernero is not ready to throw in the towel, despite the Mitchell poll showing Snyder leading  by a margin of  53 to 26 percent.

"Remember, now, there have been no commercials on the air beating up on Rick Snyer. I'm gonna guess that's going to happen. And, most people in this town are gonna guess that the numbers will come down. The question is, will they come down enough?" Skubick said.

"Snyder has built up a tremendous lead. Again, the Bernero people said if you had spent $8 million on your image, since last January, your polling numbers would be great, too," Skubick said.

Skubick said Bernero only spent $2 million on his image, and most of his advertising went to bring down his opponent, Andy Dillon, and not to build up Virg Bernero.

The poll of 600 likely voters by Mitchell Research & Communication of East Lansing found Snyder ahead among men (61%-23%), women (46%-28%) and independents (54%-13%). It was conducted August 25-29, and has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

The Mitchell poll is the latest in a series of post-primary surveys which show the Republican businessman with a commanding lead over the Democratic mayor of Lansing.

Mitchell cautioned that Michigan remains a very competitive state for Democrats, and he expects the margin to close as election day approaches.

The last Republican to win atop the ticket in Michigan was former Governor John Engler in 1998.  Pollester Steve Mitchell notes that  Bernero came back to win the Democratic primary in August after trailing House Speaker Andy Dillon by double digits in earlier polls.

 (Copyright 2010 WWJ Radio.  All Rights Reserved.)