Wisconsin Miscellany

-Paul Ryan's favorability numbers have seen some recovery over the last few months as he's receded a little bit from the national spotlight. 40% of Wisconsin voters now express a favorable opinion of him to 35% with a negative one. That represents a 10 point improvement on the margin from May when he was at 41/46.  His numbers are better across the party spectrum, but he remains extremely polarizing with Republicans rating him favorably 73/4, and Democrats rating him unfavorably 7/64. A 44/33 standing with independents helps to put him on positive ground overall.

I'm not sure what this improvement in his numbers says for Ryan's political future.  Certainly a politician with these kinds of favorability ratings can win statewide office in Wisconsin, but it doesn't bode well for Ryan moving forward if his image is going to tank any time he's in the spotlight.

-Herb Kohl continues to have very solid approval numbers with 51% of voters giving him good marks to 31% who disapprove.  Wisconsin is one of the most polarized states in the country with Democrats basically not liking any Republicans and Republicans basically not liking any Democrats.  What puts Kohl in good standing is that 21% of GOP voters think he's doing a good job- that might not sound like a lot but in the Badger State that's pretty solid. His retirement is definitely a blow for Democrats.

-Ron Johnson continues to draw a pretty even mix of positive reactions, negative reactions, and straight out ambivalence. 37% of voters approve of the job he's doing, 34% disapprove, and 29% have no opinion. With Johnson you again see the massive party divide in the state- he's at 72/3 with Republicans, but 7/61 with Democrats.  His 37/34 standing with independents mirrors the overall numbers.

-Wisconsin voters are split in their feelings about Occupy Wall Street, with 39% seeing it positively while 38% rate it negatively. Those aren't great numbers but that movement's at least polling a lot better than the Tea Party- only 40% of voters have a favorable opinion of that to 47% who give it bad marks. Overall 42% of voters see Occupy Wall Street more positively to 40% who prefer the Tea Party.

Full results here

Comments

[The Interesting Times]

Is it just me, or has Wisconsin been trending redder for the past couple of years?

[Dustin Ingalls]

Not really. Kerry and Gore won the state by less than half a point. Obama won it by 12 or 13. It has a fair number of independents, and they're leaning right, at least now. It's got a progressive tradition in the distant past, but the state has been a closer swing state in the more recent past than it was in 2008.

[jeff]

Well they deserve whatever happens to them, if they lose their job don't blame the dems or Obama. Blame yourselves.

[Rhonda]

It is trending redder because it is a very white state, and any white person would have to be insane to vote democratic these days. That would be like an African American voting for the KKK.

Whether or not you agree with that last point, it is a true fact that democrats have been losing white voters in droves. This is causing them trouble not only in WI, but also in PA particularly as well as other places. I still think that Obama has the edge in those states but barely, and if the GOP had better candidates they would be crushing him right now.

[Jill Winters]

REALLY??? Who are they polling? They did not poll me nor any of my neighbors who are all sporting RON PAUL signs in their front lawns. And did any other running Republican draw a crowd of 5,200??? Does the media dare to cover the truth?? LIES!!!