Courtesy of Education Week:
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Rick Snyder, the non-confrontational Republican who’s averse to slamming his critics, is more forcefully countering what he calls “the big lie” in his re-election bid — charges that he cut $1 billion in education funding in 2011.
His opponent, Democrat Mark Schauer, isn’t shying away from the claim even though it’s largely based on an outdated legislative fiscal analysis.
Whom voters believe — either about the $1 billion figure or, more broadly, the question of whether K-12 schools are adequately funded — could help determine the election. Both sides are airing TV ads featuring retired or current teachers with opposing stances, and the funding debate has overshadowed the candidates’ other education policy differences on charter schools, cyber schools and Michigan’s embattled K-12 turnaround district.
The ad blitzes likely are the reason education, not the economy or roads, was the top issue for likely voters in a new poll released Wednesday, said EPIC-MRA pollster Bernie Porn.
That sounds very similar to the strategy used by Democrats to attack U.S. Senate candidate Thom Tillis.
And yes, the pollster’s name is Bernie Porn.
