(Source: MIRS.news, Published 10/17/2024) A total of 50% of Michigan voters were put off enough by former President Donald Trump’s comparison of Detroit to a developing country that they are less likely to vote for him this fall, according to a new Mitchell Research & Communications survey commissioned by MIRS and Michigan News Source. 

Here is the question MIRS asked in the poll and the results: 

In a speech before the Detroit Economic Club, former President Donald Trump compared Detroit to developing countries and added “Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if she’s your president.  You’re going to have a mess on your hands.” Does his comment make you: 

Much less likely to vote for him – 46% 

A little less likely to vote for him – 4% 

Much more likely to vote for him – 30% 

A little more likely to vote for him – 11% 

Not sure – 9% 

Only 3% Getting News From Traditional Newspapers 

MIRS also posed the question as to how Michiganders consume news. This is the actual question and results: 

From which source do you get most of your news?  

Cable television – 21% 

News websites –21% 

Network television –19% 

Other social media – 12% 

Traditional newspapers – 3% 

Facebook –2% 

Radio –2% 

Instagram – 1% 

X (formerly Twitter) – 1% 

Trump Retains 1% Lead In Head To Head, Tied With Third Party Voters 

The head to head in the presidential race came out exactly the same as it did two weeks ago with Trump holding a 1% lead over Vice President Kamala Harris (48.5% to 47.5%) when voters are asked about a head to head.  When all eight candidates are listed, Harris and Trump are tied at 47%. 

Slotkin Continues Leading Rogers For U.S. Senate 

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) appears to continue to do better among voters than the Democratic presidential nominee by leading her GOP opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers, by four points in a head to head (47% to 43%).  

When all candidates were included, Slotkin jumped to a five point lead 45% to 40%.  

The survey was conducted at Mitchell Research & Communications, Inc. and sponsored by Michigan News Source and Michigan Information & Research Service, Inc. (MIRS). The poll of (N=589 Likely Voters) has a Margin of Error of + or – 4.04% at the 95% level of confidence. A total of 71,265 messages were sent with a response rate of 0.00826. 

The survey participants were 38% Republican, 38% Democratic and 24% independent.  On a general basis, 46% of participants were male, and 53% were female, with one percent indicating they were non-binary.