As Nov. 4 approaches, Rep. Gary Peters, the democratic candidate vying for retiring Sen. Carl Levin’s senate seat, is widening his lead on republican opponent Terri Lynn Land, according to new poll results released this week.
Mitchell Research’s Sept. 14 poll shows Peters two percentage points ahead of Land — a seven percent decrease from USA Today’s Sept. 10 poll. Peters, who represents Michigan’s 14th district in the U.S. House of Representatives, has consistently led Land in all but one poll.
Land served two terms as Michigan’s secretary of state under Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Peters, a self-acclaimed “environmentally friendly” candidate, has invested in companies that profit from fracking and burning coal, The Daily Caller reported Monday.
According to his 2013 financial disclosure, Peters received dividends from CMS Energy and NiSource, two companies that profit from fracking and coal energy facilities.
Last week U.S. News and World Report dubbed Land “The Invisible Senate Candidate,” as she’s refused to publicly debate Peters and largely avoids public comments.
When Land refused to debate her opponent again last Monday, Peters held a forum at Grand Valley State University standing next to an empty chair to represent Land.
“If a candidate isn’t willing, when they are running for office, to stand up and say what they are for, if they were elected, they would completely disappear,” Peters said at his forum on Sept. 8, MLive reports.
Land has consistently out-fundraised Peters, netting nearly $8.6 million this report cycle, according to Federal Election Commission records. Peters raised $6.8 million this quarter, according to the FEC.
“These polls bouncing back and forth, it does show a volatility for both candidates,” political consultant Stu Sandler told The Washington Examiner. “I think the electorate’s wide open at this point.”
