MichiganRadio

Poll: Republicans Leading in 2010 Governor's Race ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) -

A new poll shows Democrats may have trouble holding on to Michigan's governor's office in 2010.

The poll found Lt. Governor John Cherry easily leading a field of little known Democrats to win the party's gubernatorial nomination next year. But the poll also found Cherry losing to three different potential Republican candidates.

Republican voters split their support between Congressman Pete Hoekstra, Secretary of State Terry Lynn Land, State Attorney General Mike Cox and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.

The newsletter, Inside Michigan Politics, commissioned the poll of 600 likely voters. Bill Ballenger is the publisher of Inside Michigan Politics. He says the poll is informative, but with a year and a half before voters go to the polls, the result is not written in stone.

"In terms that it has any bearing on in what occurs in August 2010, or the general election, that's pretty farfetched," says Ballenger.

However, Ballenger says politicians unable to improve their poll numbers now may not be able to raise the money they need to run for governor next year. © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio