New Poll Shows Thompson Leads the Republican Pack for Senate
Former Wisconsin governor has 8 percentage point lead over businessman Eric Hovde in the race for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate seat.
Former Gov. Tommy Thompson leads the field of GOP candidates for U.S. Senate, according to a survey released Wednesday by Marquette University Law School.
The poll of likely voters shows Thompson favored by 28 percent of the respondents, while businessman and political newcomer Eric Hovde comes in at 20 percent. Former Congressman Mark Neumann was backed by 18 percent, while Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald garnered 13 percent.
With less than a week before Tuesday's Republican primary, 21 percent of those polled say they are undecided.
In last month's Marquette poll, Thompson held a 12-point lead over Hovde — 35 percent to 23 percent. Neumann sat at 10 percent and Fitzgerald was 6 percent.
A full 25 percent of those surveyed at that time were undecided.
Conducted from Aug. 2 to Aug. 5 of 519 likely voters in the Republican primary, the poll has a margin of error or 4.4 percentage points.
The latest polling numbers were released Wednesday as part of the ongoing polling project at Marquette during a live edition of "On the Issues" with broadcaster Mike Gousha and Professor Charles Franklin.
When it comes to the November general election against Democrat Tammy Baldwin, Thompson holds the lead there as well, 48 to 43 percent. Neumann runs even with Baldwin at 44 percent, while Baldwin leads Hovde, 44 to 41 percent, and Fitzgerald, 45 to 40 percent, respectively.
"All this is within the margin of error," Franklin said.
Marquette surveyed 1,188 likely voters for questions on the November matchup and those questions have margin of error of 2.9 percentage points.
What was interesting to note, he added, was that among voters with unfavorable opinions about any of the candidates, a clear second choice is not apparent.
"I think this is worth paying attention to because of what it means in a multi-candidate race," Franklin noted. "There's just no way to break out with less than week to go before the primary. They all want the Affordable Care Act repealed, the federal deficit restrained, and taxes managed in a conversative way."
The candidates respond
After the Marquette poll results were released, the campaigns of Thompson, Hovde and Neumann sent out press releases about the numbers.
From Brian J. Nemoir, spokesperson for the Thompson campaign:
Not only does Tommy Thompson hold a strong and commanding lead in the primary despite a relentless barrage of negative attacks, the fact remains he is the best-positioned candidate to defeat Tammy Baldwin in November.
Republicans have shown an early and consistent understanding that this race is about making sure Tammy Baldwin does not represent Wisconsin for the next 36 years, and that Thompson is the candidate who can win and defeat Obamacare, balance the budget and create jobs.
Hovde's Campaign Manager Joe Fadness had this to say:
Like every other public poll that has been released over the last month, Tommy Thompson is sliding and Eric Hovde is rising. However, the Marquette Poll continues to be the outlier with every other recent survey showing Eric leading at this stage of the race.
The Thompson and Neumann campaigns know that Eric is in the lead, and that is why they continue to use negative and deceitful attacks against us at every turn. With just six days to go before Election Day, we are winning this race.
Neumann's campaign pointed out his double-digit surge in the polls, noting he is the only candidate to show this kind of improvement:
Marquette University released a poll today further demonstrating the Wisconsin GOP Senate contest is a three man race and Neumann has the momentum.
Marquette continues to show conservatives are uniting behind Mark Neumann. (He) is surging because he’s the proven conservative. His barnstorm this week with the Tea Party Express continues the momentum.
This is the last statewide poll from Marquette before the primary Tuesday.
James R Hoffa
12:59 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Looks like all the mud slinging being done by the top 3 is starting to turn people on to the quite underdog in this race - Fitzgerald. He more than doubled his support since last month - the largest increase realized by any of the candidates for the nomination.
With 21% yet undecided, it's still anyone's win - a true race to the finish.
Just remember that in November ABB applies - anyone but Barack, anyone but Baldwin!
William
1:31 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Maybe someday you will have a candidate to support and believe in rather than just vote for "Anyone But..". That philosophy is sad on numerous levels, not the least of which is the pathetic pool of "applicants".
Dirk A.
1:32 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I prefer to subscribe to the WDNMWW mantra - We're doomed no matter who wins.
Greg
1:48 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Look at how well the anyone but Walker campaign worked out. Over a million signatures with no clue of who they will be supporting.
I think the Republican pool of candidates ("applicants") is so good, that the "anyone but" actually works.
James R Hoffa
2:26 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
@William -
Greg is correct - the field of contenders for the GOP nomination is so strong, that any one of them would be preferable to Baldwin. The survey proves this in how equal the support for the contenders is.
Not good for Baldwin!
Spate Cooley
9:20 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
After 4 years of Obama Jessie Ventura is looking pretty good.
James R Hoffa
2:17 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
@Scott C -
Hoffa would openly welcome and support Ventura if he made a run for the White House!
David Tatarowicz
2:29 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Now that the Republican candidates have told us why none of their opponents are worthy, or trustworthy --- I think Tammy is a shoe in !!
James R Hoffa
2:48 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
@David -
Hillary told you why Barack was not "worthy, or trustworthy," but that didn't stop you from voting for him in 2008, and probably won't stop you from voting for him again in 2012.
David Tatarowicz
6:12 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
@JRH --- I didn't believe Hillary --- but how could one not believe those fine Republican US Senate Candidates ???
I hope you aren't telling me that they are Gableman-ning the truth in their ads --- I would be Shocked --- Shocked I tell you !!!
James R Hoffa
8:34 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
@David -
What's more interesting to Hoffa is how you apparently don't have a problem with Obama appointing, who you consider to be a very deceptive and unbelievable person, Hillary, as our nation's Secretary of State. Wouldn't such a lapse in judgment automatically disqualify such a candidate as Obama from your radar this time around?
And yet for some reason, it doesn't - very odd....
jukap29
11:03 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
@David - Hillary is doing a much better job not effing schtuff up than Barak, just sayin...
i gotta give you one thing though, Obama was truthful when he said he'd fundamentally transform the US - so far he's escalated our debt and borrowing by ridiculous magnitudes, turned Americans at each other's throats over racial items (Read Gates and Martin), and now he's following through on his promise to stop at nothing to win re-election, even if that stop at nothing includes tacit approval of lying super pacs and misrepresentation of facts.
before you say a darn thing, understand I don't see ANY difference between him or Bush, but I severely disliked Bush too so it really wouldn't be saying much, two wrongs do NOT make a right
David Tatarowicz
1:19 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
JRH --- Sometimes you crack me up --- just imagine, a diplomat who is sometimes deceptive --- please name for me ANY president who was NEVER deceptive about something -----
I don't believe everything that Hillary says now -- but then again, in foreign relations if you always said what was true, there would be no chance of peace or compromise ever.
We unfortunately live in a Real World as you well know.
James R Hoffa
2:16 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
@David -
That's a pretty pessimistic view of the Real World, isn't it - that we need to constantly lie to each other for the benefit of being able to get along with each other?
Hoffa is more or less a say what you mean and mean what you say kinda guy!
David Tatarowicz
4:56 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
@JRH --- kind of say what you mean kind of guy ............. I do feel so sorry for you and all the persecution you endured from people who did not believe you --- after all having to go to prison on trumped up bribery charges ... Not Fair ... and all those folks who think you sold out the Union Endorsement to Nixon so he would pardon you ... C'mon who would believe such a thing !!
All this talk though, does bring a tear to my eye, remembering my Teamster days in Chicago under Louis Peick --- now there was a guy who got things done, but somehow I don't think I would always have believed everything he said !!!
James R Hoffa
5:25 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
@David -
It was that damned Bobby Kennedy and his brother - always out to get Hoffa!
Bobby never did jump from the Capitol dome like he promised he would after Hoffa's first acquittal, did he? That lying little weasel!
You know that Hoffa would never tamper with a jury, don't you? And Hoffa never defrauded the central states pension fund - all the Vegas loans were legit!
As for Nixon, Hoffa personally voted for the man three times, the endorsement was only a logical and natural extension! Hoffa wasn't planning on being back-stabbed by Colson and Fitzsimmons though - f'ing Frankie!
Always remember that the Kennedy's were even bigger communist witch hunters than McCarthy was! Accusing Hoffa of being a communist - where exactly do the damned Kennedy's get off?
Who do they think they are?!?!
I hate the Kennedy's!
Steve Ebbie
2:50 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
What a bunch.
The leader has supported the ACA and HS Rail to Madison before being against them. Most have benefited from some type of stimulus or Government handout but rail against it. All have promised to not compromise if elected (great a fresh batch of people that will not work across any party line). All but Hovde have signed Grover Norquist's pledge to never increase revenues no matter what.
What a bunch.
Kelly
1:20 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Compromise is not a good thing if they keep voting for bigger and bigger government.
jbw
4:48 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Did anyone really say "never increase revenues"? I mean if you acutally foster private sector business activity then your revenues will increase over time as there are more businesses paying more government fees and more taxes.
Conversely, if you raise taxes and several large businesses move elsewhere (as we've seen numerous times), you decrease revenue. Would we really be better off with very high taxes on a very small economy rather than moderate taxes on a much larger economy? Reality is more complicated than the textbook theory, of course, but the sentiment that higher taxes is ever good in any way confounds me.
Dirk Gutzmiller
5:34 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
jbw - You might want to remind us of the specific cases where "you raise taxes and several large businesses move elsewhere (as we've seen numerous times)". Not sure which companies moved out specifically due to raised taxes.
James R Hoffa
6:20 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
@Dirk -
Why did Obama's jobs czar, Jeffery Immelt, move GE's med-tech division out of Wisconsin and over to China? Why don't you email him or Obama for an explanation and get back to us with what you find out!
Dirk Gutzmiller
8:05 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Hoffa - Jobs are, of couse, exported to China from every State, and even from other countries. And not just due to taxes, of course, but much more significantly, lower wages, fewer environmental laws, and U.S. federal tax breaks. I am interested in which companies moved from Wisconsin and went to another State due to tax increases in Wisconsin, as jbw contends several have done numerous times.
No State in the nation is going to compete with China to any degree, though Master Lock in Milwaukee has gained national attention in its efforts to bring back jobs from China.
Obama did much like Lincoln did, he brought in his "enemies" to his administration to get their advice and support. Immelt could tell the President first-hand why he exported the jobs.
James R Hoffa
9:02 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
"Immelt could tell the President first-hand why he exported the jobs."
And yet four years later, Obama has done squat to alleviate the situation! In fact, Obama's done the exact opposite and made things even worse. And yet, you still support the man.