Rasmussen: Romney Leads Obama for First Time in Wisconsin

Mitt Romney now leads President Barack Obama for the first time in Wisconsin where the president's support has fallen to its lowest level to date.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Romney with 47 percent of the vote to Obama’s 44 percent. Five percent prefer some other candidate, and 4 percent are undecided.

Prior to this survey, Obama's support in the state has ranged from 45 percent to 52 percent, while Romney has earned 41 percent to 45 percent. Last month, the numbers were Obama 49 percent, Romney 45 percent. The president led his likely Republican challenger by 11 points in March — 52 percent to 41 percent.

Just last week Republican Gov. Scott Walker won a special recall election prompted by Democrats outraged over his successful move to limit collective bargaining rights for some unionized public employees in order to reduce Wisconsin's budget deficit.

Most voters (51 percent) in the state view public employee unions unfavorably, while 46 percent share a favorable opinion of them. This includes 33 percent with a Very Unfavorable view of the unions and 27 percent with a Very Favorable one.

The president draws overwhelming support from voters who view public employee unions favorably, while Romney draws equally heavy support from those who view them unfavorably.

Forty-seven percent of voters in Wisconsin approve of the job Obama is doing, while 52 percent disapprove. These findings include 27 percent who Strongly Approve of the president’s job performance and 44 percent who Strongly Disapprove. These ratings are comparable to those measured nationally in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

Romney is viewed favorably by 49 percent of Wisconsin voters and unfavorably by 45 percent. These numbers include Very Favorable reviews from 23 percent and Very Unfavorable ones by 30 percent.

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Wisconsin was conducted on June 12, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports.