GOP field for governor of Mich. tightens as Hoekstra slips

Rep. Pete Hoekstra and state Attorney General Mike Cox and found themselves neck and neck this weekend for the GOP nod to run for governor in Michigan.

After having maintained a steady lead for months over other Republican primary challengers, Hoekstra found himself trailing slightly behind Cox, according to a new EPIC-MRA poll.

26 percent of GOP primary voters in the Great Lakes State said they would pick Cox if the August 3 primary were held today, as opposed to 24 percent that would opt for Hoekstra.

20 percent would support businessman Rick Snyder and 16 percent would vote for Oakland County sheriff and 2006 Senate candidate Mike Bouchard.

The poll shows momentum for Cox since a May poll by the same organization, which showed Hoekstra well ahead of the pack with support from 30 percent of Republican voters, followed by Cox at 18 percent, Snyder at 17 percent, and Bouchard at 16 percent.

Hoekstra has sought to turn his position as ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee into an asset in the race, heavily criticizing the Obama administration's handling of an attempted bombing of a flight en route to Detroit on Christmas Day.

Cox has picked up momentum, though, with endorsements from the state Chamber of Commerce and state Right to Life committee.

The hard-fought Republican primary in the state reflects a sense within the GOP that Michigan provides one of the most ripe opportunities for a takeover this fall, with the relatively unpopular, term-limited Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) hanging over Democrats.

On the Democratic side, state House Speaker Andy Dillon maintains a 34-24 percent lead over Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, with a larger 42 percent of the primary field undecided.

The EPIC-MRA poll was conducted June 12-15, and has a 4.9 percent margin of error.