AARP Michigan Swing Voter Battleground Survey

“Soccer Moms” and “NASCAR Dads” have given way to “Voters Age 50+” as the most prevalent swing voters in Michigan in this year’s presidential campaign, according to a new survey released by AARP. According to this August 2008 survey of 400 likely Michigan voters age 18 and older who are uncommitted to a candidate, undecided “swing voters” are older voters who want more information from the candidates on health care and the economy before they decide who to vote for.

Specifically, the survey identified Michigan’s undecided, swing voters as largely white, lower-to-middle income, older women in the middle of the political spectrum. They are over age 50 (66 percent), including 29 percent over age 65. They are 90 percent white and 56 percent female, and 58 percent identify themselves as Independent voters.

The survey also found that 70 percent of Michigan swing voters think the candidates are only doing a “poor” or “fair” job of addressing health care and financial security. Eighty-four percent of swing voters want to learn more about the candidates’ positions on these issues. Perhaps most importantly, the research indicates that nearly all swing voters (92 percent) agree that health care and financial security are too big for any one candidate or party to fix.

This telephone survey of a random sample of 400 likely Michigan voters age 18+ who are undecided or not strongly committed to a candidate was conducted on August 19-31, 2008, by EPIC-MRA. The margin of sampling error is ±4.9%. Further information may be obtained from Stepheni Schlinker of AARP Michigan at 517-267-8919. (16 pages)