A new poll shows that Republican Scott Walker leads four potential Democratic challengers hoping to unseat the Wisconsin governor in a recall election.
Walker has been targeted for recall by those opposed to a bill he signed into law that limited bargaining rights for public sector unions. The measure sparked massive protests and recall efforts against members of the state Legislature. Opponents recently filed a million signatures to recall Walker that have yet to be certified.
Nonetheless, the
Marquette Law School Poll surveyed 701 registered Wisconsin voters by both landline and cell phone Jan. 19-22. The poll found Walker led Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, 50 to 44 percent; former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, 49 to 42 percent; former Congressman David Obey, 49 to 43 percent; and Democratic State Sen. Tim Cullen 50 to 40 percent.
“The old line ‘you don’t beat somebody with nobody’ is true,” said Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll. “Other polls have asked only if Governor Walker should be recalled and have found closer races. But in the end, some specific Democrat will face Governor Walker. This poll is the first of the year to match specific potential Democratic challengers against the governor. The results show a competitive race but one in which Governor Walker starts with an advantage.”
On the measure that sparked the recall effort, the poll found that 48 percent favored and 47 percent opposed limiting state employee unions’ ability to bargain over benefits and non-wage issues.
The poll also took a look at potential presidential matchups in the state and found that President Barack Obama led former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney 48 to 40 percent. Obama was viewed favorably by 50 percent, Romney by 30 percent and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich by 25 percent.
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