WI-Sen: Thompson Lead vs. Feingold Evaporates

[babylonsister]

http://mydd.com/2010/3/18/wi-sen-2

WI-Sen: Thompson Lead Evaporates

by Josh Orton, Thu Mar 18, 2010 at 05:34:35 PM EDT


Today's Rasmussen poll of the Wisconsin Senate race provides a bit of a surprise: former Republican governor Tommy Thompson no longer holds a statistically relevant lead against incumbent Russ Feingold:

...matched against Thompson, Feingold now trails by a statistically insignificant 47% to 45%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided.

Thompson, who is reportedly interested in the race but has not yet made a final decision whether to run, led Feingold 48% to 43% in February and held a similar lead in January.

Feingold easily beats his other two potential Republican opponents, but the real story is the Thompson matchup. In the last few months, the former governor has attracted a boatload of press about his potential decision to run - yet all the attention has only weakened his position.

So even though Thompson's cohorts are hinting about a run, I'm still skeptical. His lobbyist connections being what they are, I bet Thompson was hoping for a much better number than he got today.

[southernyankeebelle]

1. I tell you that if Fiengold is defeated they it is that state's lose. He is a honest person. No one

can take that away from him. I would be surprised if he lost.

[PeaceNikki]

3. He won't.

[PeaceNikki]

2. There was a good deal of suspicion with the polls that had him in the lead.

As has been widely reported, WPRI is a group with strong Republican ties, most prominently to Tommy Thompson. While we shouldn't be complacent, I believe Feingold will win handily. Thompson hasn't even declared and he left the state with a MASSIVE deficit.

[still_one]

4. After what the republicans have put this country through, especially people like

thompson, if states start voting to bring back republican control, they deserve EVERYTHING that the deregulated, anti-labor republicans give them at maximum pain

[hfojvt]

5. it sucks that Feingold does not have a ten point lead

What is the matter with Wisconsin that they would even consider Thompson?

Of course, he might still be Governor if Bush had not taken him for the HHS secretary. That was one good thing that came out of the Bush Administration. It got Thompson out of the Governor's office.

Although, my dad is mad at the current governor for some reason. At least he was last summer.

[elocs]

6. It will be a tough race, but I am sure that Feingold will beat Thompson.

I know Republicans who view Feingold like they did Bill Proxmire inasmuch as they disagree with him but they respect his honesty. Thompson was smart enough to get out of Wisconsin when he did before things went bad and he would get the blame. He has to be hoping that Wisconsinites have short memories.

[tritsofme]

7. This result is statistically insignificant from January/February

It will take more time to determine if there is a trend.

It is bad news for an incumbent to be under 50% at all let alone trailing, the best hope is that Thompson passes on his bid. Which he probably will, it would be a big pay cut for him to become a senator.