Senator Russ Feingold marginally leads both potential Republican nominees in the Wisconsin Senate election. In both races Feingold received 45% of the vote. Ron Johnson earned 43% of the vote and Dave Westlake, his challenger in the Republican primary, earned 38%.

Wisconsin voters have mixed feelings about Senator Feingold; 42% of Wisconsin voters disapprove of Feingold’s job, while 42% of voters support the Senator. Feingold has some strength amongst moderates, but not enough to secure a win; 54% of moderates give the Senator high marks.

Johnson and Westlake are largely unknown throughout the state. More voters supported Johnson or Westlake when matched against Feingold, than had an opinion, good or bad, of either candidates, suggesting that Wisconsinites are voting against Feingold not for Johnson or Westlake. 

Not surprisingly, Johnson has more name recognition that Westlake. 62% of Wisconsinites are unsure of their opinion of Johnson, while only 20% have an opinion of Westlake. This clearly contributes to the larger number of undecided voters in the match up between Feingold and Westlake.

“Johnson should win the primary and has a good chance of winning the general,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “But he needs to focus on spreading his name and message. Feingold can’t depend on his popularity alone; he has to win over undecided voters, that is who is going to determine this election.

PPP surveyed 638 Wisconsin voters from June 26-27.  The survey’s margin of error is +/- 3.9%.  Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.

If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.

Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of President
Barack Obama’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 45%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 50%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 6%

Q2 Do you support or oppose President Obama’s
health care plan, or are you not sure?
Support ………………………………………………….. 38%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 51%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 11%

Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Herb
Kohl’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 47%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 34%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 19%

Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Russ
Feingold’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 42%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 42%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 15%

Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Ron Johnson?
Favorable……………. 20%
Unfavorable ………… 18%
Not Sure……………… 62%

Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Dave Westlake?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 6%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 14%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 80%

Q7 If the candidates for Senate this fall were
Democrat Russ Feingold and Republican Ron
Johnson, who would you vote for?
Russ Feingold…………………………………………. 45%
Ron Johnson…………………………………………… 43%
Undecided………………………………………………. 12%

Q8 If the candidates for Senate this fall were
Democrat Russ Feingold and Republican Dave
Westlake, who would you vote for?
Russ Feingold…………………………………………. 45%
Dave Westlake………………………………………… 38%
Undecided………………………………………………. 17%

Q9 Who did you vote for President last year?
John McCain…………………………………………… 47%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 48%
Someone Else/Don’t Remember………………… 5%

Q10 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative? If liberal, press 1. If
moderate, press 2. If conservative, press 3.
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 19%
Moderate………………………………………………… 41%
Conservative…………………………………………… 40%

Q11 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman……………………………………………………. 54%
Man…………………………………………………………. 46%

Q12 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If you are a
Republican, press 2. If you are an independent
or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat…………………………………………………… 33%
Republican…………………………………………………. 32%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 34%

Q13 If you are white, press 1. If African American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 89%
African American …………………………………….. 6%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%

Q14 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1 now. If
you are 30 to 45, press 2. If you are 46 to 65,
press 3. If older, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 6%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 25%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 44%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 25%