While a Detroit Free Press poll conducted in March showed 65 percent of Michigan voters supporting raising the minimum wage, the thinking behind Obama’s visit is to put the issue front and center — on local news broadcasts and front pages — while also stoking excitement within the Democratic grass roots to reach their signature goal. There are also competitive races for governor — where former congressman Mark Schauer (D) is taking on Snyder — and Senate, an open seat created by the retirement of Sen. Carl Levin (D), that are major targets for Democrats and where having their base motivated could make a critical difference in November.
Michigan has been hit particularly hard by the economic downturn and has long suffered a loss of factory jobs. The current unemployment rate is 9 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, Ann Arbor, the home of the University of Michigan, has been largely insulated from the downturn. Its unemployment rate is 6.6 percent.
Article Appeared @http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/04/02/president-obama-is-in-michigan-to-talk-minimum-wage-today-heres-why/