Michigan: A “Kid Rock” Poll

The Market Resource Group (9/13-18; 600 MI likely voters) conducted a survey for the hypothetical Senate contest between three-term incumbent Debbie Stabenow (D) and rock star Robert Ritchie, better known as “Kid Rock.”  This is the first poll that identifies Ritchie as Kid Rock, and the results are telling.  In earlier polling, the ballot test was rather close, but this latest survey finds a Stabenow-Kid Rock contest breaking 52-34% in the incumbent’s favor.  Since Robert Ritchie is an unknown political name, the previous tests should be categorized as testing an incumbent against a placebo candidate.  Since the Ritchie name was stronger against Sen. Stabenow than the better-known Kid Rock moniker, the combined results give us a hint to a degree of Stabenow vulnerability.  The previous polling margins falling into single-digit range indicates that voters are willing to consider an alternative to the incumbent, but not apparently not Ritchie when respondents understand that he and “Kid Rock” are the same person.

--Jim Ellis