A new poll gives Democratic former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold a boost in his expected election matchup next year against Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, but the Marquette University Law School Survey also shows many voters unfamiliar with both candidates.
Feingold had 50 percent support among the 800 registered Wisconsin voters polled. Johnson got 36 percent. That’s a larger gap from a month ago, but the Democrat is not as far ahead as he was in April.
Pollster Charles Franklin said the numbers have been going up and down, in part because only 55 percent of responding to the poll are able to say if they have a favorable or unfavorable view of both candidates.
Stay informed on the latest news
Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.
“I think that just means that lots of voters are not focused much on the race and are subject to sort of short term or even idiosyncratic effects about who they support,” he said.
Franklin said the fluctuation is not unusual 13 months ahead of the Senate election but he said 45 percent of respondents not knowing much about both Feingold and Johnson is notable.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
