Poll: Duggan Leads In Detroit Mayoral Race

DETROIT (WWJ) - According to a new poll, former Detroit Medical Center boss Mike Duggan is ahead in the Detroit mayoral race. The poll by Target Insyght and MIRS shows Duggan has almost 35 percent support.

Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon is second with 27 percent, and current mayor Dave Bing has 11 percent.

Former Detroit city attorney Krystal Crittendon was fourth at 7.3 percent, followed by a tie for fifth between former state Rep. Lisa Howze and four-time mayoral candidate Tom Barrow at 4.7 percent.

WWJ Newsradio 950 spoke with Ed Sarpolus with Target Insyght.

"The key thing with Mike Duggan -- there's some consistency between all the polls," said Sarpolis. "He's been consistently hovering in around about 35-36 percent, and has a base of support across the city.

"Right now, compared to Sheriff Napoleon, Michael Duggan leads Benny Napoleon across almost all demographics, including among African-Americans: he leads 35/29," Sarpolus said.

Sarpolus it's not looking good for Bing.

"... The city wants change and they no longer view Mayor Bing as change. And I would find it hard for him to, unless he had a major turnaround in the next several months with media buy ... see him making it through the primary," Sarpolus said.

Sarpolus said pollsters are continuing to keep an eye on candidates whose numbers could grow as the election inches closer.  He said trailing candidates have to focus on boosting their name recognition.

"The key thing here is watching, do the people like Krystal Crittendon -- who's been moving up in the polls because of name I.D. -- and others, will they move up?"

As of Wednesday  only Duggan, Barrow and Howze had turned in nominating signatures. Candidates are required to collect 500 valid signatures to make the August ballot.

Bing picked up his petitions last week; at that time saying he was still deciding whether or not to run.