Marquette Poll: Scott Walker faces close reelection race in 2014

[hue]

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/writers/jack_craver/marquette-poll-scott-walker-faces-close-reelection-race-in/article_1d4d4e3e-40ca-11e3-a8eb-0019bb2963f4.html

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is still expected to be reelected in 2014, but not by much. The most recent statewide poll from Marquette University Law School puts the governor two points ahead likely Democratic challenger Mary Burke, 47-45.

As Prof. Charles Franklin, the poll's director, pointed out on Twitter, Walker's approval number has hardly budged in the 20 months since Marquette began its public opinion survey at the height of the recall election campaign in 2012. The most recent poll shows 49 percent of registered voters approve of the job he's doing and 47 percent disapprove, evidence that few in the Badger State haven't formed an opinion about the governor, whose aggressive conservatism has elevated the profile of state politics since his election in 2010.

The good news for Democrats is that their likely nominee, Madison school board member Mary Burke, is running neck-and-neck with Walker, even though she is still largely unknown.

Another relatively unknown candidate, state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, also picks up 45 percent of the vote to Walker’s 48 percent in a potential match-up, adding to the perception that Democratic-leaning voters are likely to vote for anybody over Walker. That has not been the case in past elections, including the three landslide reelection victories by former Gov. Tommy Thompson, in which he picked up a large share of Democratic voters.

[hue]

1. The only thing Franklin polls are good for is to skew the public's mind--not reliable IMHO

Yet I think the article is an interesting one. FWIW

[Scuba]

18. +1

[lostincalifornia]

2. Are the majority in Wisconsin really that happy with walker?

[hue]

3. Welp, the mainstream media still spins Wanker as presidential material 'round here.

For example Wanker's HUGE property tax break will actually amt. to about $1.00/mo. for homeowners, yet it was front page headlines and hailed as practically the second coming of JC!!
Many of the WI sheeple have only RW talk radio piped into their heads daily!! Faux news show is the go to channel!

It's sad & frustrating!

[Squinch]

4. If so, that is disgraceful.

[riversedge]

11. NO...look at this....

Walker and his Republican-TeaParty are going against the majority of Wisconsinites. He will lose in 2014

Support for same-sex marriage has grown up over last year. 53% now favor, 24% favor civil unions, 19% opposed to both. #mulawpoll

36% favor rejecting federal funds to expand Medicaid to include those slightly over poverty line, 56% oppose. #mulawpoll

Requiring women seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound: 38% favor, 56% oppose. #mulawpoll

[lostincalifornia]

17. Good

[Blue Owl]

5. According to the numbers on Kathy Nickolaus' laptop

[Jackpine Radical]

6. I just saw a car in Eau Claire yesterday with 2 bumper stickers from 2012.

One was an Obama sticker and the other was a Tommy for Senator sticker. (He lost to Tammy Baldwin.)

[gopiscrap]

7. How can anybody vote for that fucker?

[hue]

12. Some WI'ites would vote for Wanker even after he is indicted by the feds.

and I DO think Wanker will be indicted as the feds DON'T keep working & expanding an investigation if they don't think they can indict someone. Usually they don't indict unless they can get a conviction. Some of these investigators are the same ones that convicted Blagojevich. Some of his family & friends/supporters never thought he'd go to jail even the day they locked him up.

Yet waiting is almost impossible.

[lutefisk]

8. Vinehout only 1% behind Burke!

And that's with no support from the Democratic Party and the public being told every day that Burke is the candidate. How about a primary!

I'm afraid Burke's (Bjork's) kinder and gentler "Walker-lite" strategy will backfire on her. And when she strays from her talking points I think her lack of political and public speaking experience could be devastating.

Make this a democratic process and give Vinehout a chance!

[dragonlady]

9. Hear, hear!

She was at the Democratic Party meeting in Milwaukee last night and the room was packed (greater than usual attendance). She spoke first, essentially about frac sand mining and the dangers of SB 349 to every municipality in Wisconsin. From her handout:

Senate Bill 349:

Tells local people they cannot make or enforce common sense ground rules on water use and pollution, air and dust pollution, or how explosives can or can't be used. Madison will make these decisions instead.

Leaves unzoned townships without any power to negotiate with frac sand companies over hours of operation, noise standards, monitoring of drinking water or many other concerns that neighbors of frac sand mines often have.

Reversed a unanimous decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court that affirmed local governments have the right to exercise police power/home rule to protect the health, safety and welfare of their communities.

Then instead of rushing away, she stayed until the end of the meeting and talked to people afterward until the room was practically empty (about two hours in all).

[hue]

13. Vinehout is def my choice! I'll vote for Her in the primary! I'll vote against anyone running

against Wanker!

[riversedge]

14. I have been to a few events with Kathleen as a

speaker. Yes, she stayed around and mingled afterwards for a long time.

[dragonlady]

15. I think she genuinely likes people

You can see it in her eyes. As opposed to Walker, who sees people as just something to manipulate and hoodwink.

[lutefisk]

16. She'd be a great "grassroots" campaigner

She has 12 months to travel the state and get people enthused and ready to vote. I think people are ready for someone who doesn't rely on money and TV/radio ads in place of straight talk and handshakes. She's the real deal and makes our scaredy cat governor look like the calculating con man he really is. I'd sure get out and work for her!

[riversedge]

10. Majority support gay marriage, abortions and expanding Medicaid:....

The tides are turning:

Walker and his Republican-TeaParty are going against the majority of Wisconsinites. He will lose in 2014

Support for same-sex marriage has grown up over last year. 53% now favor, 24% favor civil unions, 19% opposed to both. #mulawpoll

36% favor rejecting federal funds to expand Medicaid to include those slightly over poverty line, 56% oppose. #mulawpoll

Requiring women seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound: 38% favor, 56% oppose. #mulawpoll