ONE TERM NERD? Bumper Stickers Say Governor's Campaign Already Underway
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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer.
Politics these days is such that any official who tries to change the status quo immediately becomes less popular.
Apparently that is what is happening to Michigan governor Rick Snyder, whose bold tax and education moves have brought out opposition.
Signs and bumper stickers that say "One Term Nerd" are popping up, indicating the campaign for Michigan governor has already begun.
Former Congressman Jim Barcia will introduce a Democratic candidate for governor, Mark Schauer, here Friday.
Schauer launched his campaign May 28 and is calling for Gov. Rick Snyder to disclose the names of donors to his secret "Nerd Fund."
Schauer, also a former Congressman, from Battle Creek will speak at a meeting of the Bay County Democratic Party 5-7 p.m. in Pulaski Hall, 1401 S. Grant St., about his campaign for governor.
"I'm looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and making new friends in Bay County this week," said Schauer, commenting:
"Gov. Snyder's pension tax and school cuts are hurting families in Bay County and across the state. That's why I'm running for governor, because we need to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy and the special interests."
Public Policy Polling says recent surveys show the virtually unknown Schauer topped Snyder 42-38 in a head-to-head match-up.
That poll is surprising given results of polling in March that showed Snyder getting more credit for the state's economic revival than President Barack Obama.
According to a statewide survey conducted by Marketing Resource Group (MRG) and Inside Michigan Politics (IMP), Michigan voters credit Governor Rick Snyder for Michigan's economic turnaround.
Voters in that poll slightly preferred Gary Peters in the U.S. Senate Race, give Bill Schuette their support for Attorney General, side with Ruth Johnson in her reelection for Secretary of State, and in the Michigan Supreme Court contest -- the undecideds hold the lead.
Michigan voters credit Governor Snyder over President Barack Obama for Michigan's economic comeback by six percent. When asked if Governor Snyder's or President Obama's policies were responsible for Michigan's economic turnaround, 42 percent of Michigan voters credited Governor Snyder while 36 percent said President Obama.
"While Governor Snyder's policies have often been controversial, a plurality of Michigan voters credit him with the state's economic recovery. These numbers bode well for Governor Snyder's reelection next year," said Tom Shields, President of MRG.
There was no announced Democratic candidate for governor when the MRG poll was taken, notes Zach Pohl of the Schauer campaign.
In a strange twist, conservative and tea party activists say they won't support Gov. Rick Snyder's re-election because of his support for expanding Medicaid eligibility to more Michigan adults under the federal health care law.
In an open letter to the Republican governor, about 30 advocates faulted him for consulting with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Medicaid expansion.
That stance would no doubt put Snyder in the same camp as Schauer and other Democrats, a more middle-of-the-road position Democrats would support but anathema to the radical conservatives.
The campaign states: "Mark Schauer is a lifelong fighter for Michigan workers, families, and businesses. Throughout his career in public service, Mark has fought for quality schools, healthy communities, better job training, and and an economy that works for everyone."
Mark won his first race for the Michigan House by defeating an incumbent in 1996, and in 2002, he was elected to serve in the Michigan Senate.
Mark was elected to represent Michigan's 7th Congressional district in 2008, defeating incumbent Tim Walberg.
"In Congress, Mark was instrumental in rescuing the auto industry, saving jobs across our state," said Mr. Barcia, with whom Schauer served in the State Senate.
Mark and his wife Christine live in Battle Creek, and have four grandchildren.
In other polling by MRG/IMP, in the general election race for the United States Senate seat, voters show support for Congressman Gary Peters with varied results in match ups with Republican Congressmen Mike Rogers and Justin Amash. In the Peters-Rogers contest, Peters received 37 percent of voter support compared to 34 percent for Rogers, giving Peters a slight three percent edge with 29 percent undecided. In the Peters-Amash race, Peters received 39 percent compared to Amash's 31 percent with 31 percent undecided, giving Peters an eight percent lead.
Congressman Mike Rogers carries out state Michigan, while Congressman Gary Peters narrowly wins in the Flint-Saginaw area by four percent, and carries the Detroit Metro area by 14 percent. Congressman Justin Amash carries West Michigan and the Upper Lower Peninsula, while Congressman Gary Peters carries the remainder of the state. In the Detroit Metro area Peters leads Amash by 17 percent.
"The Congressional field is plentiful and promising for the prospective candidates. Today, Amash and Peters draw the majority of their support from the party faithful and their Congressional districts," said Bill Ballenger, Editor and Publisher of Inside Michigan Politics. "Rogers enjoys substantial support statewide and competes effectively with Peters in the vote rich Detroit Metro Area. The 2014 U.S. Senate race is likely to be the most contested Michigan has seen since 2000."
PPP, out of Raleigh, North Carolina, surveyed the Presidential prospects in Michigan for 2016. The leading Republican for President in Michigan is Rand Paul. 18 percent of primary voters in the state say he would be their first choice for 2016, followed by Jeb Bush at 16 percent, Chris Christie at 15 percent, Paul Ryan at 12 percent, Marco Rubio at 11 percent, Ted Cruz at 7 percent, Rick Santorum at 6, Bobby Jindal at 4, and Susana Martinez with less than 1.
Paul leads based on his strength with two key groups. Among voters who identify themselves as 'very conservative,' he's at 31 percent with none of the other GOP hopefuls higher than 15. And with voters under 45 he's at 28 percent, giving him at least a 13 point lead over the rest of the field. That appeal to younger voters suggests he may be able to replicate the strong base of support his father had with them in last year's race.
If Hillary Clinton's the Democratic candidate for President at least for now it looks like the state will remain firmly in the blue column. The only Republican who even comes within single digits of her is Christie, who still trails 44-38. The other 3 trail by margins closer to Barack Obama's 16 point margin of victory in 2008 than his 9 point victory from last fall- Clinton is up 14 on Bush at 51/37, 17 on Rubio at 53/36, and 20 on Paul at 55/35.
Michigan is like most states in overwhelmingly supporting expanded background checks for gun purchases. 71 percent favor them to 21 percent who are opposed and the support cuts across party lines- Democrats favor them 87/7, independents do 64/25, and Republicans do 58/35.
PPP says it is perhaps a sign of how dim GOP prospects in national elections are in Michigan that one of the party's leading potential candidates for the Senate next year would trail in a hypothetical match up with a twitter handle. The person behind the well known liberal twitter handle LOLGOP lives in Ann Arbor and we find that LOLGOP would lead Congressman Justin Amash 23/22 in a head to head match. That sort of climate for Republicans may be why it's been hard to get top tier candidates into the race for the open Senate seat there next year.
# # # www.markschauer.com www.facebook.com/SchauerForMichigan www.twitter.com/markschauer --
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