Yesterday, I asked Tom Bray, the distinguished Detroit News columnist, whether the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative would succeed. Here’s his reply:
It’s very hard to tell, because a very well-financed and coordinated attack on MCRI is dominating the airwaves with almost no response from MCRI, which is able to afford only a few radio ads. Polls show it still winning, but only by a plurality. And there are four other props on the ballot, which could confuse voters and motivate them to vote no to everything. But my gut tells me it will still win. Jobs are tough to come by in Michigan these days and when people go into the ballot box and read the actual language of Prop 2, even though it was watered down a bit by the state elections folks, I think they will vote against racial preferences.