New polling shows GOP guv’s race shifting, Dem race in neutral

A new poll by Denno-Noor research shows that Congressman Pete Hoekstra has 28 percent support in the GOP primary, while Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder is now second with 18 percent and Mike Cox, the attorney general has 12 percent. The poll shows 31 percent of voters are undecided in that primary.

The poll shows Cox dropping 12 percent and Snyder climbing from five percent in a November poll. Hoekstra was at 21 percent in the November poll.

The Cox campaign dismissed the poll in an interview with Booth Newspapers, published on MLive.com:

Cox’s campaign gave the poll little credence. Spokesman Nick De Leeuw said polling was flawed because the candidates’ titles were included when 600 people, who said they would vote, were polled. He also alleged that The Rossman Group is a consultant for Dillon’s campaign.

The Rossman Group denied working for Dillon, and said Cox’s camp was upset by negative questions posed in the November poll.

“Frankly, it’s a nonsense poll,” De Leeuw said. “Polls go up and down, and they continue to go up and down. People are recognizing that Mike Cox plans to cut government spending, and get jobs back. Mike Cox is one of the hardest-working guys I’ve ever met.”

De Leeuw just took over communications responsibilities for the Cox campaign this week. He was working for the AG’s communications office, and before that he owned and operated RightMichigan.com, a blog.

Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, the polls seem stuck in neutral. Andy Dillon, a Democrat from Redford Township, has 13 percent, while Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero polls at 11 percent. State Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith pulled in six percent. A whopping 56 percent of voters are undecided or unsure.