Democratic candidates in striking distance of Engler

In potential matchups, Republican Engler led Ross, 47 percent to 38 percent; led Owen, 46 percent to 36 percent; and led former U.S. Sen. Don Riegle, who is mentioned as a possible candidate, 45 percent to 41 percent, according to the EPIC/MRA poll published in yesterday editions of the Lansing State Journal.

The poll of 600 likely voters, conducted between Sept. 15-18, has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

Incumbents are generally considered vulnerable if they stay below 50 percent, said Ed Sarpolus, a vice president of Lansing-based EPIC/MRA.

"The difficulty John Engler has is he has to come up with a new agenda," Sarpolus told the State Journal. "There is a malaise among voters, a feeling of 'What are you going to do for me tomorrow?'"

The number of undecided voters is significantly lower than in many previous polls because respondents were given some background on the candidates.

Engler spokesperson John Truscott said he was unconcerned about the results of a poll taken more than a year before the 1998 election.

"The public doesn't know these candidates. Once they know they stand for higher taxes, bigger government, more welfare, you're going to see their numbers drop dramatically," Truscott said.

"... If one of the lowest unemployment rates, reduced welfare cases and a booming economy doesn't satisfy people, I don't know what can."

Owen is an East Lansing attorney and businessman who served as chair of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees. He has received several union endorsements in recent weeks.

Ross is a former state senator and state Commerce Department director.

A sampling of 304 likely Democratic voters shows Ross leading Owen, 43 percent to 40 percent. But Riegle led a three-person race with 31 percent, compared with Ross's 29 percent and Owen's 24 percent. The smaller sample had a margin of error of plus or minus 5.7 percentage points.

09-25-97