Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan dismisses recent polls indicating Vice President Kamala Harris has a substantial advantage over former President Donald Trump in the state, contending that such surveys are inaccurate.
Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan has forcefully rejected recent polls suggesting Vice President Kamala Harris holds a significant lead over former President Donald Trump in the state, asserting that such surveys misrepresent the true dynamics of the race.
"It makes me nervous to see any poll that says there's a five-point lead for Kamala Harris in Michigan now. It's just not true," Whitmer declared during an appearance at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin.
Whitmer Challenges Polls Showing Harris Leading Trump in Michigan
She emphasized that the race would be extremely close, and while she expressed confidence in her party's ability to prevail, she cautioned against complacency. A recent CNN poll indeed granted Harris a five-point advantage over Trump, but Whitmer maintained that the poll's methodology was flawed, as it did not account for the presence of third-party candidates on the ballot.
"In Michigan right now, we have Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, and we have three other people on the ballot. CNN didn't test for that," Whitmer said. "And that's why, as we see these polls, I'm telling everyone, don't get comfortable on any. You can't sleep on Michigan."
Whitmer Challenges Polls Showing Harris Leading Trump in Michigan
Whitmer underscored the potential impact of third-party candidates, citing the example of Jill Stein's presence on the ballot during the 2016 election. Stein garnered more than 11,000 votes in Michigan, a figure that exceeded Hillary Clinton's margin of defeat in the state.
The governor attributed Michigan's status as a swing state to its diverse population, which reflects a microcosm of the broader national electorate. She explained that the state has experienced significant migration over the years, attracting individuals from various backgrounds for employment in the automotive industry.
Whitmer Challenges Polls Showing Harris Leading Trump in Michigan
"One of the wonderful strengths about Michigan and one of the challenges is we are the most diverse swing state in the country," Whitmer said. "We take big swings. We've had 12 years of a Republican governor, and then we have term limits so eight years of a Democrat, then eight years of a Republican, then eight years of a Democrat. So it is a state that is notoriously kind of independent. We split our ticket a lot. And that's who we are in Michigan."
Whitmer expressed concern that the increasingly divisive political climate and the influence of social media make it more difficult to find common ground. Nonetheless, she emphasized the importance of robust dialogue and diverse perspectives.
Whitmer Challenges Polls Showing Harris Leading Trump in Michigan
Trump has a history of outperforming poll projections on Election Day. In 2020, the RealClearPolitics average of polls in Michigan indicated that President Biden would defeat Trump by more than four points, but Biden ultimately won by less than three points. Similarly, in 2016, the RealClearPolitics average predicted a nearly four-point margin of victory for Clinton over Trump in Michigan, but Trump prevailed by 0.3 points.
