Walker Says He’s Not Surprised By New Poll Numbers

Gov. Scott Walker says he’s not surprised the latest Marquette poll shows a dead heat in his race with Democratic challenger Mary Burke.

Marquette’s July survey showed Walker leading Burke by 1 percentage point among registered voters, but also showed that Burke led Walker by 1 percentage point among likely voters. Both results were within the margin of error.

Speaking to reporters in Madison, Walker said he knew this would be a close election.

“I predicted last year when we had an opponent, that in this state — the state that was the closest blue state in America in 2000 and 2004, a state that hasn’t gone Republican for president since I was in high school in 1984 — that this too would be a close election,” said Walker.

Mary Burke campaign spokesman Joe Zepecki issued a written statement on the results, saying “Wisconsin voters know we need a new direction and are responding enthusiastically to Burke’s plan to grow the economy and create jobs.”