(WWJ) Michigan residents favor Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's handling of the coronavirus over that of President Donald Trump, according to new poll results released over the weekend.
It's notable, however, that the poll shows approval of government leaders' pandemic response is heavily split down political party lines.
Among Michiganders surveyed, 89% of Democrats said they approve of Gov. Whitmer, while 86% disapprove of President Trump; 88% of Republicans approve of the president, while 70% disapprove of the governor.
Around 49% of men polled approve of both, according to the survey, while 64% of woman approve of Whitmer and 54% disapprove of Trump.
The poll of 600 residents across Michigan was commissioned by the Detroit Regional Chamber and conducted by the Chamber’s polling partner, Glengariff Group Inc., between April 15 and 16, 2020.
The poll that offers the first glimpse into the struggles Michigan households are facing amid the COVID-19 crisis.
“This poll puts the level of economic struggle across the state in stark relief. Poll results report 29% of respondents furloughed, laid off, or unable to work. This points to the real possibility for the official unemployment rate for April to exceed our bleakest expectations,” said Sand Baruah, president and CEO of the Chamber in a statement. “The dual-threat of navigating our greatest public health crisis coupled with our greatest economic crisis has placed a hereto unknown strain on Michigan families.”
Highlights from the poll also include:
- 9% of respondents believe they have contracted COVID-19.
- 29% of respondents are furloughed, laid off, or unable to work.
- 3% of respondents that were working prior to the outbreak have been forced to file for unemployment.
- 6% of respondents that were working prior to the outbreak, are now furloughed, laid off, or unable to work.
- 69% of furloughed or laid-off workers face catastrophic to major financial impact.
- 28% of respondents are worried about putting food on the table.
- The majority of respondents, 50%, believe Michigan is already in a recession.
“What we attempted to do with this survey was to paint a vivid picture showing the magnitude of what the people of Michigan face. That 28% of Michiganders worry that they can put food on the table highlights the unprecedented magnitude of the crisis residents face,” said Richard Czuba, the founder of Glengariff Group Inc.reat of navigating our greatest public health crisis coupled with our greatest economic crisis has placed a hereto unknown strain on Michigan families.”
Respondents were also asked how long it would take for Michigan to return to normal.
- 18% said Michigan would be back to normal with one month.
- 39% said between one to six months.
- 36% said in a year a more.
- 4% said a few weeks
- 14% said a month
- 24% said several months
- 15% said six months
- 18% said a year
- 18% said more than one year
- 7% are not sure.
The 600-sample survey provides a margin of error of +/-4.0% with a 95% level of confidence. Data collection for this survey was conducted via automated calling and text messaging. 50% of respondents were contacted via automatic dialing, landline telephone, and 50% of respondents were contacted via cell phone text message.
View the full data for the poll at this link.
