New poll results show President Barack Obama regaining a comfortable lead in Michigan over Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
In an EPIC-MRA poll for the Detroit Free Press and WXYZ TV-7, 48 percent of likely voters said they would reelect President Obama. Opening up a six-point lead over the former Massachusetts governor.
The results were echoed by an earlier July 23 poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports which also found a 48 to 42 lead for Obama over Romney.
New Numbers Do Little to Abate Worries for Obama: The Obama campaign is likely finding little relief in the new numbers. Last week, Mitchell Research found Romney taking a slight lead over the president -- shifting a 47 to 46 edge for Obama in June, to a surprising 45 to 44 lead for Romney in July.
Even more disconcerting for the president's re-election efforts in Michigan have been the number of undecided voters and independents siding with the Romney camp over the last several months.
Obama Slipping Among Undecided Voters: The NBC News/Marist Poll -- which focuses on all registered voters versus only likely voters -- includes undecided voters leaning toward one candidate in their totals. In February, Obama showed a profound 51-to-33 lead. However, the same poll showed June numbers evening out to a more competitive 47-to-43.
Ballot Measures May Decide Election: Adding to the uncertainty of the 2012 election turnout in Michigan are a number of potential ballot measures. Last year, Governor Snyder passed a new law known as Public Act 4, granting state-appointed emergency managers the power to void collective bargaining agreements in Michigan's financially struggling municipalities and local school districts. A union-backed group called Stand Up for Democracy collected enough signatures to get a measure on the ballot challenging the law.
Another measure, called the Protect Our Jobs Act, asks for a state constitutional amendment that would make collective bargaining a constitutionally protected right.
The Michigan Department of State is expected to certify petitions next month after the deadline passes for opponents to submit challenges to the signatures.
