Election news for Food Day

I know I promised Food Day news from campuses on the campaign trail, and I will follow through, but I'm sitting on some election news that will turn into pumpkin before then, so it posts now.

First, breaking with the campuses on the campaign trail theme, is Detroit Mayoral Debate Preview - Watch October 29, 2013 at 7PM on Channel 7.

As we prepare for the final Detroit mayoral debate between Benny Napoleon and Mike Duggan, the debate panelists and partners discuss what they hope to hear.

WXYZ has since interviewed both candidates, beginning with Benny Napoleon.

7 Action News interviews Detroit Mayoral candidate Benny Napoleon.

Next, Mike Duggan.

Mike Duggan speaks about Detroit mayoral run.

WXYZ is not alone in hosting the candidates.

Wayne State organizations plan Detroit mayoral forums
October 14, 2013

DETROIT – Several Wayne State University organizations are sponsoring separate town-hall-style public forums in October with Detroit mayoral candidates Mike Duggan and Benny Napoleon.

The events are presented by the Political Science Students Association in cooperation with Wayne State’s Law School, Pre-Law Students Association, Student Senate and Center for Peace & Conflict Studies.

The schedule will be:

Benny Napoleon – 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium at the law school, 471 W. Palmer St., west of Cass Avenue.

Mike Duggan – 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, Alumni House, 441 Gilmour Mall (formerly Ferry Mall), off Cass Avenue behind the law school.

Each forum will include a brief presentation by the candidate followed by community conversations.

Follow over the jump for election news from universities in Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.

Virginia Tech: Two Virginia gubernatorial candidates hold final debate on campus Oct. 24

BLACKSBURG, Va., Oct. 14, 2013 - Virginia Tech and WDBJ7-TV will host the last Virginia gubernatorial debate between Democratic candidate and former Democratic National Chairman Terry McAuliffe and Republican candidate and current Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli on Thursday, Oct. 24, in Haymarket Theater at Squires Student Center on the Virginia Tech campus.

Guests attending the debate must be seated no later than 6:45 p.m. as the doors to Haymarket Theater will close at that time. The debate will begin at 7 p.m.

WDBJ7 news anchor Jean Jadhon will moderate the one-hour televised debate. WDBJ7 political analysts Bob Denton, the W. Thomas Rice Chair and professor of communication at Virginia Tech, and Roanoke College professor Harry Wilson will be the two panelists presenting questions to the candidates.

WDBJ7 news anchor Chris Hurst will contribute questions from an online audience.

Rutgers University: Christie’s Strength on Most Issues Widens Lead Among Likely Voters, Rutgers-Eagleton Poll Finds
Friday, October 18, 2013

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – With New Jersey’s gubernatorial election now less than three weeks away, Gov. Chris Christie commands a 26-point lead over Democrat state Sen. Barbara Buono among likely voters, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton Poll. Christie now leads Buono, 59 percent to 33 percent – a six-point improvement since last month.

These gains come despite likely voters consistently disapproving of Christie’s performance on the state’s taxes and the economy. With the exception of same-sex marriage, however, they still think the governor would do a better job than his challenger on most other issues.

“Barbara Buono is not making any new gains, even among those who should gravitate to her,” said David Redlawsk, director of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll and professor of political science at Rutgers University. “Chris Christie simply seems to be a force of nature, all but unstoppable in this particular election.” Redlawsk added that most voters – about 90 percent – say they are unlikely to change their mind between now and Election Day.

Rutgers University: Most New Jerseyans Support Christie's Appearance in Storm Ads but Think Commercials' Creators Chosen for Political Reasons
September 25, 2013

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – While state Sen. Barbara Buono continues to criticize Gov. Chris Christie’s involvement with New Jersey’s “Stronger than the Storm” ad campaign, 54 percent of registered voters side with the incumbent, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton Poll. The majority say Christie’s appearance in the commercials was focused on promoting confidence in the shore’s recovery, while 34 percent say the appearances were mostly about gaining publicity for his re-election campaign. Another 11 percent are unsure.

Views are more mixed over the appropriateness of the choice of MWW, the company the state used to create the ad campaign. Democrats criticized the firm in recent months for its supposed close ties to Christie, and a price tag reportedly $2 million higher than its competitors. By a 2 to 1 margin, voters believe MWW was chosen primarily for political reasons. A noteworthy 37 percent are uncertain about where why the firm was chosen.

“While voters see Christie’s appearance as part of his job to promote the state’s recovery, many are cynical about why MWW was chosen,” said David Redlawsk, director of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll and professor of political science at Rutgers University. “We specifically tested Senator Buono’s criticism to see if it resonates, finding that many view the award of the project as political. But that perspective does not change the positive view of the governor’s role in the ad campaign.”

The “Stronger than the Storm” campaign generated high levels of awareness, as 80 percent of voters saw or heard the ads promoting Jersey shore tourism this summer.

Rutgers University: Christie Maintains High Ratings, but Voters Still Disapprove of his Performance on Top Problems
More than half of voters continue to express no opinion on Buono
Friday, September 13, 2013

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J – A year after his response to Hurricane Sandy sent Gov. Chris Christie’s ratings into record territory, a new Rutgers-Eagleton Poll finds New Jersey registered voters continue to embrace him, if not quite as strongly. Christie’s 66 percent positive job rating remains the envy of most politicians, even though it has dropped four points since June. During the same period, disapproval of Christie has increased six points to 31 percent, still well below its pre-Sandy highs.

“It was inevitable that the governor’s ratings would drop from their high point during the run-up to an election, but Christie continues to bask in broad support,” said David Redlawsk, director of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll and professor of political science at Rutgers University.

Even as voters continue to report strong general approval of Christie’s performance, they also pan his specific efforts on the economy and taxes, seen as the two most important issues facing the state. Only 42 percent approve of Christie’s handling of the economy and jobs, unchanged since June, but the 34 percent approval of his performance on taxes is a seven-point decline over that period. Regardless, disapproval of specific issues is not significantly affecting overall voter support for Christie.

University of Massachusetts, Lowell: City Voters Also Weigh In on Crime, Schools, Transportation
10/10/2013

LOWELL, Mass. – City Councilor John Connolly has the edge – 8 percentage points – over former state Rep. Marty Walsh among likely voters in the race to be the next mayor of Boston, according to a new poll released today by the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion.

Forty-five percent of likely voters favor Connolly while 37 percent prefer Walsh, according to the independent, nonpartisan poll, which was conducted between Wednesday, Oct. 2 and Monday, Oct. 7 and surveyed 605 Boston registered voters on behalf of the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion. Prof. Joshua Dyck, the center’s co-director, wrote and analyzed the poll. The margin of error is plus or minus 5 percentage points for registered voters and plus or minus 6 percentage points for likely voters.

With less than a month to go before the Nov. 5 election, 18 percent of likely voters polled said they are undecided and four in 10 likely voters who expressed support for a candidate said they could still change their mind. Forty-two percent who said they support Walsh and 39 percent who prefer Connolly said their choice is not firm.

Stay tuned for more election news, whether it comes from WXYZ, campuses on the campaign trail, or my own articles at Examiner.com.