Hoekstra leads GOP pack in Michigan gov. race

Rep. Pete Hoekstra leads the field of Republican candidates for the governorship of Michigain, a new poll found Monday.

21 percent said they preferred Hoekstra, the top GOP member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, over other Republican candidates for governor.

Hoekstra leads state Attorney General Mike Cox, who drew the support of 15 percent of Michiganders, in a Denno-Noor poll published in the Detroit Free Press on Sunday.

13 percent of state Republicans support Oakland County Sheriff (and 2006 senatorial candidate) Mike Bouchard, while the rest of the GOP candidates poll in the single digits.

37 percent say they're undecided.

Hoekstra announced earlier this year that he wouldn't seek reelection to the House and instead focus on winning the governorship in Michigan, a state where Republicans are hoping to make inroads.

Since announcing his intentions, Hoekstra has found himself on the forefront of several national intelligence issues, including defending the CIA from allegations that it had lied to Congress in briefings, and in preventing terrorist detainees at Guantanamo Bay from being transferred to the U.S., especially his home state of Michigan.

The winner of the state's GOP primary is likely to face off against Lt. Gov. John Cherry (D) in the general election.

The poll, conducted Nov. 12-17, has a five percent margin of error for the GOP sample.

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