GOP Newcomer Rick Snyder Has Big Lead in Michigan Governor's Race

Former computer executive and political newcomer Rick Snyder, who won the GOP nomination for governor in Michigan earlier this month, has a huge lead over Democrat Virg Bernero, the mayor of Lansing, according to an EPIC-MRA poll conducted Aug. 21-23 for news organizations in the state.

Counting likely voters who "lean" one way or the other, Snyder leads Bernero by 51 percent to 29 percent with 20 percent undecided. Seventeen percent of those who expressed a vote preference said they may yet change their minds.

Both Snyder and Bernero have work to do to become better known to voters. Nearly 3 in 10 were unable to offer a favorable or unfavorable opinion about either. Twenty-two percent said they didn't recognize Bernero and 12 percent didn't know anything about Snyder.
However, among those who did express an opinion, 48 percent said they viewed Snyder favorably compared to 12 percent whose opinions were unfavorable. Twenty-seven percent saw Bernero unfavorable and 22 percent regarded him favorably.

After Snyder's Aug. 3 primary victory, Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling said Snyder's "numbers with independents were unlike anything I'd seen for a politician this cycle ... I think there's an argument that Rick Snyder is the strongest Republican candidate in the country this year."

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