Unless you moved to this state recently from another planet you are pretty much aware that Michigan is a divided state not only geographically but politically as well. It’s southeast Michigan vs. West Michigan. Lower Peninsula vs. Uppers. Uppers vs. the rest of the free world. Lower Michigan below Clare vs. everyone else up North and so it goes.
So doing a deep dive into the latest statewide polling data on the economy and the attitude about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer we find these interesting tidbits based on these perceived differences.
For example when asked if the U.S. economy was on the right track, the overall state views it 22% right track and a whopping 66% wrong track. This despite the fact that inflation is not at 8% plus but rather down around 3% to 4%. The creation of new jobs continues at a respectable clip, and when asked a majority say they are actually doing pretty well. Yet 66% statewide have a sour view of the national outlook.
On this issue all of the state seems pretty much on the same page. Up North 26% says the U.S. is on the right track compared to 66% who disagree. And down in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties the split is almost the same at 24%-63%.
Turning to Michigan’s right economic track vs. wrong track things are more upbeat with the statewide average at 47% plus and 40% minus. On this one the North is more pessimistic than lower Michigan clocking in at only 41% positive and 39% negative compared to 55%-33% in lower Michigan or a 14-point difference of opinion.
The North has a different take on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s favorability but it’s in step with the rest of the state on her job performance which in and of itself is interesting in that they may not like her but they give her good grades on her performance. Usually it is the other way around.
The hard numbers on the governor: 53%-42% of the state as whole like her. It’s at 56% in the North but six points higher elsewhere.
On her job performance it’s plus 52% vs. 47% statewide. Lower Michigan at 60%-40% and just two points higher, 58%-42% in northern Michigan.
When you break down her findings based on region the differences are not nearly as stark as they are when you turn the spotlight on gender, age, and education.
Oh my. There is no meeting of the minds on those.
• 61%-38% of those between the ages of 18 and 34 feel Ms. Whitmer is doing a bang-up job. Seniors 65 and older, not so much. There is a 17-point difference of opinion with older citizens only at 44% job approval vs. 56% negative.
• The governor has always enjoyed a decided advantage with women and the EPIC-MRA statewide survey underscores that. By a 60%-40% margin females conclude her job rating is very good. For men it’s 44% plus vs. 55% negative or a 16% different point of view.
• 47% vs. 49% of the men do have an upbeat view of the governor but that is 12 points lower than women at 59%-36%.
And then there is education which tends to be a consistent divider on just about every item in the survey. If you have a sheep-skin hanging on the wall somewhere, you have a different take on things compared to those who don’t and there is a 19 point gap there.
• 62% of the college educated give the governor favorable marks compared to 43% with less than a high school diploma.
• 60% with a four year degree award good marks on job performance while 44% of the non high school grads concur.
So if you have made it this far, you might be wondering, what the heck do all these numbers mean?
Well if you ponder why Michigan is a swing state in this presidential election, the answer is in the data indicating that the state is not homogenous with a little bit of every race, every party affiliation, every everything. So with such a cross section of voters, if you can win here, your candidacy has broad appeal which is what most candidates want and need to win nationwide.
So an optimist might argue, rather than bemoan the fact that the state is so divided, it’s that very diversity that is at the heart of who we are and now everyone can argue about that.
