Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow has widened the distance between herself and Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard. The incumbent now leads 51% to 43% (see crosstabs). Last month, after winning the GOP nomination, Bouchard had closed to within five points.

Rasmussen Reports continues to list this race as “Leans Democrat” in our Senate Balance of Power ratings.

Bouchard's strong primary win may have given him a slight bounce. An eight-point deficit in a Democratic leaning state is a tough challenge for the Republican candidate, Stabenow is barely over the 50% level of support. Earlier in the year she enjoyed a twenty-point lead over the Republican.

Still, the Senator is well-liked by Democrats and unaffiliated voters. Unlike the Democratic Governor, Senator Stabenow draws solid support from Democrats (89%) throughout the state. She also wins 50% of unaffiliated voters, versus Bouchard's 38%

The latest issue in the campaign is a deal Stabenow arranged with an Ontario environmental official to reduce and then stop the flow of trash from Canada into Michigan. Bouchard has questioned the legitimacy of the deal.

A narrow plurality (40%) of all likely voters see Stabenow as politically liberal; 36% see her as a moderate. Almost three times as many Republicans as Democrats see her as liberal.

Bouchard is viewed as conservative by 30%, moderate by 39%. GOP voters are more likely than Democrats to see him as moderate, but the discrepancy between partisan perceptions is not as great as it is in the case of Stabenow.

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