LANSING – Several key metrics to watch when it comes to the health of a governor’s re-election prospects show Governor Rick Snyder is in better shape for re-election in 2014 than former Governor John Engler was for his first re-election bid in 1994 or former Governor Jennifer Granholm was in 2006, according to a polling analysis released Friday.

On the question of whether Michigan is on the right track, 43 percent said in October that Michigan was on the right track compared to 47 percent who said it was on the wrong track, according to Marketing Resource Group, a Republican political consulting and public relations firm.

In September 2005, just 27 percent said Michigan was on the right track and 62 percent said wrong track. And in September 1993, the split was 35 percent right track, 51 percent wrong track.

On the direction of Michigan’s economy, in October, 32 percent said it would be better in a year, 14 percent said worse and 41 percent said the same. In September 2005, the split was 23 percent better, 32 percent worse and 34 percent the same. And in September 1993, the division was 32 percent better, 20 percent worse and 39 percent the same.

On job approval, 56 percent approve of Snyder’s job performance compared to 41 percent who disapprove. Granholm in September 2005 was at 55 percent approve, 34 percent disapprove. In September 1993, Engler was at a 49-37 split.

The one measure where Snyder fares worse is on personal popularity. Forty-nine percent said they have a favorable impression of Snyder versus 42 percent unfavorable. Granholm in September 2005 was at 54-38, and Engler was at 58-35 in September 1993.

“Governor Snyder’s job approval is higher, more people believe the state is headed in the right direction and they are more optimistic the economy will be better one year from now than in a similar timeframe under both Governors Engler and Granholm,” Tom Shields, president of Marketing Resource Group, said in a statement. “Snyder only trails the past two governors in personal popularity. Some of the contentious issues of his first term have appeared to have polarized the Michigan voters.”

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