Poll shows Romney leading Obama in Michigan (AP)

LANSING, Mich. – A poll of likely Michigan voters shows Mitt Romney beating President Barack Obama in a hypothetical matchup but two other leading Republicans losing to the president.

The poll released Sunday shows the Michigan-born ex-Massachusetts governor getting 46 percent compared to 41 percent for Obama. The difference is just beyond the poll's 4 percent sampling error. Thirteen percent are undecided.

The poll showed Obama with an apparent lead over Newt Gingrich 45 percent to 40 percent, with 15 percent undecided. And it showed Obama leading Herman Cain 50 percent to 36 percent, with 14 percent undecided.

Obama carried Michigan in 2008.

The results of the poll by EPIC-MRA were reported in the Detroit Free Press (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_on_el_pr/storytext/us_president_michigan_poll/43666523/SIG=10sq84n7h/*http://on.freep.com/rDwjJU ), which sponsored the poll along with television stations WXYZ, WOOD and WJRT.

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Michigan Republicans Push Bill to Allow More "Cyber" Charter Schools (ContributorNetwork)

Michigan Republicans narrowly passed a bill on Thursday that would raise the cap on what are commonly referred to as "cyber" charter schools. The bill was one of six measures the Senate passed that Republicans say would give more parents more choices in their children's education.

The move to lift the cap on cyber charter schools follows very closely behind another recent measure passed by state Republicans that would lift the cap on brick-and-mortar charter schools as well. The Republicans' push toward regular and cyber charter schooling has been very controversial, as oversight and accountability in charter schools is still virtually nil in the state.

Why are state Republicans pushing charter schools so strenuously?

In general, state Republicans claim the push toward lifting the cap on the establishment of charter schools is about giving parents more choices. Additionally, some have pointed out the advantage of cyber schools to home-schooling parents and school dropouts. They are pushing not only to lift the cap on the number of them allowed in the state but also to allow them the same per-student funding as a typical public school, which is to be paid through the state's public school funds.

Some have pointed out the timing of this push seems odd. Charter schools tend to be run through businesses, as opposed to traditional public schools. Critics have alleged there might an element of this push for more charter schools that is politically or personally advantageous, or both.

Why is a potential increase so controversial?

Partially for the reasons listed above, but also because of the lack of state oversight and accountability that charter schools enjoy in Michigan. Additionally, it has been shown in several studies that sought to measure the performance of charter schools vs. traditional public schools that charter schools, as a general rule, do not perform at the same level as their traditional counterparts. Charter schools have also widely been accused of turning away special needs students and of being racially segregated.

Add to that the question of money. Cyber schools are being heavily investigated around the nation. In Ohio, a study revealed the state's 23 "E-schools" are far more expensive than traditional public schools and provide, according to the study, "dismal" results.

How widespread is the opposition to lifting the cap on charter schools?

An EPIC-MRA poll conducted in late September showed the opposition to charter schools is definitely there. Some 52 percent of Michigan voters voiced opposition to the idea of lifting the cap.

The vote in the state Legislature has been relatively close. The bill on cyber schools passed the Senate on Thursday 20-18. Six Republicans voted against the measure along with all of the Senate Democrats.

The measures now go to the state House. It is uncertain as to whether Gov. Rick Snyder will sign the bills. These measures go further in their educational reforms than anything he has previously proposed.

Vanessa Evans is a musician and freelance writer based in Michigan, with a lifelong interest in politics and public issues.

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Romney wins Michigan straw poll; second straight loss for Perry (Exclusive to Yahoo! News)

By Ron Fournier
National Journal

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. - In a rout, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney trounced Rick Perry and the rest of the GOP field to win the National Journal Hotline/National Association of Home Builders Straw Poll of GOP activists attending a weekend conference in Michigan.

Romney received 51 percent of the 681 votes cast, a whopping 34-percentage point victory over second-place Perry, who garnered 17 percent. It was the second straight defeat for Perry in a straw poll, after he finished second in another contest Saturday in Florida. The twin disappointments, along with weak debate performances, have raised questions about whether the Texas governor will remain the perceived front-runner in the GOP nomination fight.

Romney grew up in suburban Detroit and in the Michigan governor's mansion; his father, George Romney, served as the state's chief executive from 1963 to 1969. Michigan is likely to hold its presidential nomination contest on Feb. 28, a week before Super Tuesday. It is also an important state in the general election contest.

(PHOTOS: The 20 youngest members of Congress)

Both Romney and Perry addressed the conference Saturday, and while Perry took subtle digs at his GOP rival, Romney denounced President Obama's economic leadership. "I just don't think he's equipped for what's happening," the former Massachusetts governor said.

Third place in the Hotline straw poll went to former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain, who won the Florida poll Saturday. He received 9 percent of the votes among Michigan Republican activists.

Among the other vote-getters:

· Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, 8 percent

· Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, 4 percent.

· Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, 4 percent.

· Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, 3 percent

· Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, 2 percent.

The National Journal Hotline/National Association of Home Builders poll also found that Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was easily the activists' favorite to be their party's vice presidential nominee. Rubio received 23 percent of the 481 votes cast for vice president. Cain finished second with 14 percent followed by Gingrich at 13 percent and Bachmann at 12 percent.

(2011 NOTABLES: From Elizabeth Taylor to Kara Kennedy Allen to Gil Scott-Heron)

The straw poll was conducted Friday and Saturday at the biennial Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference. Nearly 700 people cast votes in a poll that was open to all voting-age conference attendees, most of whom were party activists and elected officials. The straw poll is not a scientific survey and it does not necessarily reflect the attitudes of Michigan primary voters at large.

Questions exploring the activists' ideological views suggest that while the delegation was overwhelmingly conservative, a strain of pragmatism drove their decision-making. For instance, half said they would be willing to support a candidate who would get the economy moving, even if that candidate supported abortion rights and same sex marriage.

While 80 percent said the tea party will help the GOP in the 2012 elections, 17 percent said they fear the movement could alienate independent voters. Two out of every 10 straw ballot voters hold a negative view of the tea party.

(CONGRESS: The most liberal members)

The delegates were split almost evenly on the question of whether they value the qualities of electability or ideological agreement most in a candidate, with ideology getting 51 percent of the vote.

Romney seized home field advantage in his remarks Saturday night. He charmed he crowd with inside references to Michigan ("I like people who, when you ask them where you're from, they hold up their hand") and an endearing moment with his wife, Ann. As the Romneys stood side by side during Mrs. Romney's brief remarks, members of the audience began tapping their wine glasses with silverware, a wedding tradition that calls for a kiss from the bride and groom.

Romney at first looked puzzled then said, "Oh!" - and gave his wife a quick kiss.

Visit National Journal for more political news.

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Michigan Rep. McCotter to run for president (The Ticket)

(J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Little-known Rep. Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan on Friday called on Americans to "Seize Freedom" via his newly unveiled presidential campaign website following reports the conservative Republican is planning to officially enter the 2012 race.

Advisers to McCotter told USA Today Thursday that the lawmaker will kick off his presidential campaign Saturday in his home state of Michigan. He will make his plans official today, Politico reports, by filing presidential paperwork with the Federal Election Commission and other reports indicate the announcement will be made Saturday in his home of Livonia.

As The Ticket has reported, McCotter has been inserting himself into 2012 discussions, even going so far as to offer some less-than-friendly advice to members of the burgeoning 2012 GOP field.

His representative made a scene at last week's preparation for the Ames Straw Poll in Iowa. Kellie Paschke, an Iowa-based conservative lobbyist working informally with McCotter, attempted to participate in the traditional "buy-in" for the poll (an auction where campaigns bid on plots of land on which to host straw poll supporters) without identifying for whom she was bidding.

After participants stormed out in protest, Paschke identified herself and successfully bid $18,000 to secure a plot for the Aug. 13, 2011 event for McCotter.

In the run-up to his campaign rollout this weekend, McCotter has been talking to the press about themes he hopes the build his campaign around: fiscal discipline, challenges created by globalism, and core Republican principles including smaller government.

McCotter pledged on ABC's politics webcast "Top Line" last week to offer blunt honesty to the American people. "I have no doubt that if I run I will be reviled across the country in many quarters," he said, arguing that unlike other candidates he won't change his position to suit a particular audience. The lawmaker said voters "have to hear an honest difference of opinion."

McCotter has served as a Michigan congressman since 2003 but holds virtually no national profile--a major obstacle for his projected presidential run. He is known for holding staunchly conservative positions as well for his willingness to buck his party on issues of importance to his home state and on proposals he believes defy his core principals, such as the financial bailout.

And for all those lamenting the absence of bass player Mike Huckabee from the 2012 race, take heart--McCotter is an avid guitarist.

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