Walker, Burke Downplay Results Of Latest Marquette Poll

Both gubernatorial campaigns sought to downplay the results of the final Marquette University Law School poll on Wednesday, which showed Gov. Scott Walker leading Democrat Mary Burke among likely voters by seven points.

Walker told reporters in Eau Claire that he hoped his supporters would not become complacent because of the poll, likening it to his days of running track in high school.

“I always, to win races in the 800- and 400-meter dash, would always run hard,” said Walker. “I would run all the way through the tape, about 10 yards ahead, knowing that the only way you were going to lose when you tried hard was if you finished too early. Never finish before the tape, always run hard through, and that’s what we’re going to do here, and I hope our volunteers will too.”

Burke’s campaign said the poll confirmed what had been known for months — that this race was too close to call and that it was going to come down to turnout. Speaking to reporters in Green Bay just before the poll was released, Burke said it would not affect her plans down the stretch.

“This is going to be tight,” said Burke. “I think we’ve known for a long time that it’s going to come down to Nov. 4. So I’m just going to continue to make sure I get all around the state and voters get a chance to hear from me directly about the kind of Governor I’m going to be and how I’m going to lead Wisconsin forward.”

Walker’s lead in the Marquette poll is outside the survey’s margin of error.

The poll’s “likely voter” category comprises people who say they’re absolutely certain to vote. People who say they’ll probably vote don’t get counted in that group.

Among all the registered voters who participated in the survey, the poll was much tighter, with Walker up by just one — a lead within the poll’s margin of error.