DETROIT, MI -- A new poll appears to put Mike Duggan ahead of the pack in the Detroit mayoral race, despite his status as write-in candidate.

In the survey commissioned by MIRS news service and conducted by Target Insyght, 40 percent of respondents indicated they intend to write in a name on the mayoral primary ballot Tuesday.

The Aug. 6 election will narrow the wide field of mayoral hopefuls to two top candidates who will move on to the November election.

(Related: Winners of Detroit mayoral primary may not be determined for days after election)

Duggan, a former Wayne County Prosecutor moved into the city last year and resigned as head of the Detroit Medical Center to run for mayor, was ordered off the ballot because he filed for candidacy too early. He's been running a write-in campaign since June.

A barber named Mike Dugeon has also entered the race as a write-in candidate using a campaign logo and slogan similar to those of Duggan.

Of the respondents who said in the survey that they intend to enter a write-in ballot, 92.7 percent of them said they were "very certain" they would vote for Mike Duggan.

Of the 500 likely voters surveyed this week, 29.5 percent said they intend to vote for Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, according to MIRS.

Accountant Tom Barrow followed with 7.6 percent and 6.4 percent said they would vote for former state Rep. Lisa Howze. Former top city attorney Krystal Crittendon had support from 5 percent, followed by state Reps. John Olumba at 1.4 percent and Fred Durhal, Jr. at less than 1 percent.

Ed Sarpolus of Target Insyght said Duggan supporters will still have to spell his name right, but that even if only half of them do, the poll numbers indicate he would still make second place.

"No matter the scenario, Benny Napoleon makes it through the primary," Sarpolus told MIRS. "Tom Barrow is luring in third, hoping Duggan supporters don't follow through at the ballot."

Among African American respondents, the write-in option leads Napoleon among blacks 39.6 to 30.2 percent.

Follow Khalil AlHajal on Twitter @DetroitKhalil or on Facebook at Detroit Khalil. He can be reached at kalhajal@mlive.com or 313-643-0527.