There is little competition in the Wisconsin Republican primaries. In the Gubernatorial race, Scott Walker leads former US Congressman Mark Neumann 58 to 19%. The Senate race isn’t too exciting either, as Ron Johnson has a big lead over Dave Westlake 49 to 11%.
Both elections have a large number of undecided voters. In the Governors race 23% of voters are undecided, still not enough to put Neumann ahead of Walker. With 40% of Republicans undecided in the Senate race, there is a small ray of hope for Westlake, who could still win the election if he gained the support of all the undecided voters.
But Westlake would have to do some considerable campaigning to accomplish such a feat. Currently 80% of Republicans have no opinion of the candidate. His competitor, Johnson, is better known, but not by much. 39% of voters likely to vote in the primary gave Johnson high scores, still 53% of voters are unsure.
The candidates’ lack of name recognition directly relates to the large number of undecided voters. This is good news for Democratic incumbent Russ Feingold, who will face the winner of this competition in November.
Scott Walker is a much stronger candidate and would be a much greater challenge to his Democratic opponent. 64% of Republicans have a favorable opinion of Walker, 24% have yet to form an opinion.
“Scott Walker is entering a competitive general election and his strength is good news for Republicans,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Ron Johnson is still a pretty unproven commodity, even within GOP circles.”
PPP surveyed 400 Republican primary voters from June 26-27. The survey’s margin of error is +/- 4.9%. 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 have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Mark Neumann?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 33%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 27%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 40%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Scott Walker?
Favorable ………….. 64%
Unfavorable……….. 10%
Not Sure……………. 26%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Ron Johnson?
Favorable……………. 39%
Unfavorable ………… 8%
Not Sure……………… 53%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Dave Westlake?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 7%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 13%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 80%
Q5 This year do you think you will vote in the
Democratic primary or the Republican primary,
or will you not vote in a primary?
Democratic primary………………………………….. 0%
Republican primary………………………………….. 100%
Will not vote in a primary…………………………… 0%
Q6 The Republican candidates for Governor are
Mark Neumann and Scott Walker. If the
election was today, who would you vote for?
Mark Neumann ……………………………………….. 19%
Scott Walker ……………………………………………. 58%
Undecided………………………………………………… 23%
Q7 The Republican candidates for Senate are Ron
Johnson and Dave Westlake. If the election
was today, who would you vote for?
Ron Johnson…………………………………………… 49%
Dave Westlake………………………………………… 11%
Undecided………………………………………………. 40%
Q8 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative? If liberal, press 1. If
moderate, press 2. If conservative, press 3.
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 4%
Moderate………………………………………………… 25%
Conservative…………………………………………… 71%
Q9 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 45%
Man……………………………………………………….. 55%
Q10 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………………………………………………….. 5%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 24%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 46%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 25%
