It is shaping up to be an interesting race in Michigan, as Clinton tries to consolidate her lead and prevent her principal rivals from catching up. According to the latest Rossman Group/MIRS/Denno-Noor survey of 300 respondents in Michigan, Hillary Clinton is leading the field with 48% support.
Polling way behind Clinton (48%) were Uncommitted (28%), Unsure (11%) and Other (10%). The other Democrats – Dennis Kucinich (at three percent), Christopher Dodd (at one percent) and Mike Gravel (at one percent) – lag considerably behind.
Political insiders in Michigan point to the strong possibility that Uncommitted and Unsure may combine forces to mount a strong challenge to Clinton, whose inability to break 50% is seen as weakness in a state where other rivals such as Barack Obama and John Edwards are not running.
Hoping to head off consolidation of the opposition and to ensure that her voters would turn out in large numbers, the Clinton camp has launched a last minute effort to attract Uncommitted and Unsure voters.
Said Clinton, "I have been Uncommitted and Unsure for over 35 years of public service. You know, this is very personal for me. It’s not just political it’s not just public. I see the rising tide of certainty sweeping the country, and we have to reverse it."
"Hillary's numbers clearly reflect the concern Democrats have with their own primary field. They're so conflicted that not even half of them are sure they're going to vote for her – and she's the only serious contender on the ballot," countered Rossman-McKinney of the Rossman Group. "I know an awful lot of men who are comfortable with a failure to commit but this is beyond the pale!"
Responding to a questioner at a town hall meeting, Bill Clinton took umbrage at a young man who raised the possibility that 48% in uncontested primary is serious weakness in a major candidate.
"I would not read this poll as saying that a majority of Democrats are against Hillary." said Clinton. "If you look historically, the 10% of support for Other is really support for Hillary. She has been the Other Woman in my life for as long as I've been married. Our marriage - its the biggest Fairy Tale you've heard -- beats Hansel and Gretel and Rapunzel. I'm confident that she will win."