Good, but the gap between her and Dick is getting smaller.
LANSING -- Michigan remains in the economic doldrums with high unemployment and waves of bad news from Detroit automakers, but its residents don't seem to hold that against Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
Granholm, who in November will seek a second four-year term as governor, gets a positive job rating from 55 percent of Michigan adults, according to a poll conducted by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 and EPIC/MRA.
In a head-to-head matchup with presumptive Republican nominee Dick DeVos, Granholm holds a 53-46 lead among the 600 adults surveyed statewide from Jan. 15-25. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. The poll numbers were taken before the governor's annual State of the State address.
Interestingly, a majority -- 55 percent -- of survey respondents said the state was "on the wrong track," while 30 percent said it was aimed in the "right direction." And about half -- 49 percent -- said Michigan's economy has gotten worse over the past several months, compared with 41 percent who said it remained the same and 7 percent who said it has improved.
"People in Michigan, by a 2-to-1 margin, blame President Bush rather than the governor for Michigan's economic problems," said Ed Sarpolus, who conducted the poll. "While her job approval ratings are up from being below 50 percent in August through October, they are not at the 60 percent level she once had."
An ominous quote-
John Truscott, spokesman for west Michigan businessman DeVos, said it's far too early to pay close attention to polling data.
"I bet 60 to 70 percent of the people in Michigan have no idea of who Dick DeVos is at this time," Truscott said. "A week or two of TV advertising, and your name identification shoots up 30 or 40 points.
"No plan" Dick is going to run a smear campaign like you have never seen. I hope Michigan isn't stupid enough to fall for it. I also hope that the Democrats go on offense for a change- sitting back and just answering their false charges, ala John Kerry, will not do. Time to play hardball, kids.