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Poll: Stabenow Maintains Double-Digit Lead Over Hoekstra

By Steven Shepard // September 13, 2012 | 9:20 a.m.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., maintains a double-digit lead over her Republican challenger, former Rep. Peter Hoekstra, according to a new poll.

The poll, conducted by Lansing-based EPIC-MRA for a number of in-state media outlets, shows Stabenow leading Hoekstra, 49 percent to 38 percent, with 13 percent of likely voters undecided.

In EPIC-MRA's most recent live-caller survey, conducted in late July, Stabenow led Hoekstra by a similar margin, 49 percent to 35 percent.

The poll shows that Hoekstra has been unable to gain significant ground on Stabenow on other measures, as well. Stabenow's image rating -- 46 percent favorable, 40 percent unfavorable -- remains statistically unchanged from late July. And Hoekstra is viewed favorably by just 28 percent of likely voters, compared to 32 percent who have an unfavorable opinion -- slightly worse than July.

And Hoekstra also faces headwinds from the top of the ticket, the poll shows. President Obama has opened up a 10-point lead on Mitt Romney, slightly higher than his 6-point advantage in late July. The poll was conducted Sept. 8-11, in the wake of the Democratic National Convention, for the Detroit Free Press and four TV stations throughout the state. EPIC-MRA surveyed 600 likely voters, for a margin of error of plus-or-minus 4 percentage points.