Decision 2009

Poll: Bing leading Barrow, with 25% still undecided

Leonard N. Fleming / The Detroit News

Detroit --Candidates for mayor and City Council barnstormed the city Monday before today's election that is guaranteed to bring new faces to an oft-troubled City Hall.

Council candidates Gary Brown and Charles Pugh pressed the flesh at supermarkets, gas stations and neighborhoods, while accountant Lisa Howze rode a bus throughout the city and supporters of Councilwoman Brenda Jones rallied at a union hall. No matter who wins, the nine-member council will have a new look when it is seated in January, since only five incumbents are on the ballot.

"I feel good, but the only poll I'm paying attention to is the one in the August primary," said Brown, the former deputy police chief who finished third during the summer balloting.

"We're working hard to improve that position."

Pugh said he doing well, despite a recent controversy involving the foreclosure of his downtown condo.

"We've got a lot of support," said Pugh, the former WJBK-Fox 2 broadcaster. "I've had very little rejection unless people are blowing smoke. It really has restored my faith because going through a storm like that you assume people would react negatively."

A poll released Sunday by EPIC-MRA of Lansing reinforced their optimism, showing Pugh tied with Council President Kenneth Cockrel Jr. for the top spot, barely ahead of Brown. The poll of 400 likely voters was conducted Monday through Thursday and had a margin or error of 4.9 percentage points.

The poll, commissioned by The Detroit News reporting partner WXYZ-TV (Channel 7), had all five incumbents among the top nine, with Councilwoman Alberta Tinsley-Talabi in seventh and JoAnn Watson in ninth. Earlier polls showed them lagging in the 18-candidate race.

The poll had Mayor Dave Bing leading accountant Tom Barrow 46-24 percent with 25 percent still undecided.

"My physical health is good, but some may question my mental health," joked Bing, who was elected to complete former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's term in May.

"We're feeling good about what the results will show."

Barrow, who spent Monday giving radio interviews, phoning voters and meeting with groups, said "I'm not resting." He plans a full day of campaigning today.

"We get dismissed. But we're going to shock everyone," Barrow said.

Darren A. Nichols and David Josar contributed.