LANSING ? Michigan Republicans are poised for a landslide win that could sweep Democrats from power in state government, according to two polls released Thursday.

A poll conducted by EPIC/MRA showed GOP gubernatorial nominee Rick Snyder with a 55 percent to 37 percent lead over Democrat Virg Bernero. That survey essentially squared with a Glengariff poll, also released Thursday, showing Snyder up 53 percent to 35 percent on Bernero.

Perhaps most alarming of all for the Democrats, their tenuous majority on the Supreme Court appears in grave jeopardy. A victory by Justice Alton Davis would secure a 4-3 Democratic majority on the court, but the two Republican candidates – Justice Robert Young Jr. and Wayne Circuit Judge Mary Beth Kelly – are well in front in both polls.

In the Glengariff poll, Ms. Kelly had 31 percent to 27 percent for Young to 15 percent for Davis and 10 percent for Oakland Circuit Judge Denise Langford Morris, the other Democratic nominee. The top two finishers are elected.

The EPIC/MRA poll was fairly similar with Kelly at 27 percent, Mr. Young at 20 percent, Mr. Davis at 10 percent and Ms. Langford Morris at 7 percent.

In the attorney general race, Bill Schuette, the Republican candidate, tops Democrat David Leyton, by double digits in both polls. In the Glengariff poll, he leads, 47 percent to 35 percent. Schuette has a 47-37 lead in the EPIC/MRA poll.

Those results aren’t terribly surprising because Schuette, combined with the Republican Party, has swamped Leyton and the Democratic Party in television advertising for the race.

It is only in the secretary of state race where the polls suggest hope for Democrats. In the Glengariff poll, Democratic secretary of state candidate Jocelyn Benson, who has run a strong television advertising effort, still is trailing Republican Ruth Johnson, 47 percent to 37 percent.

The EPIC/MRA poll is more promising for Benson, but Johnson still has a 44-36 lead.

Proposal 1, which would call a Constitutional Convention, is poised for a landslide defeat, according to the EPIC/MRA poll. Just 31 percent of those responding to the survey said they would vote yes while 57 percent said no. But Proposal 2, which would bar certain felons from holding local office, appears poised for passage with 76 percent stating support.

President Barack Obama’s job approval rating also continues to sink, according to EPIC/MRA, falling below 40 percent for the first time, to just 39 percent with 60 percent disapproving of his performance.

The Glengariff poll of 600 likely voters was conducted Monday and Tuesday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. It was commissioned by The Detroit News and WDIV-TV.

This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com

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