Posted on 10/08/2015 11:39:34 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
To win a tough re-election race next year, Republican Sen. Ron Johnson needs one of two things to happen.
He needs his party to carry Wisconsin for president, which hasn’t happened in 31 years.
Or he needs to out-perform his party’s presidential nominee by a margin big enough to overcome a Republican loss at the top of the ticket.
Either could happen, but past history and recent polling show why each scenario poses a challenge for the first-term GOP incumbent.
Johnson trails Democratic challenger Russ Feingold by an average of 9 points in the last two statewide polls by the Marquette Law School. The contest is a top target for both national parties — rated one of five Senate “toss-ups” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
Feingold’s lead in Marquette’s polling has bounced around from 16 points in April down to 5 in August and back up to 14 in September.
Those shifts may not be all that meaningful. It’s more than a year before the election, so most voters aren’t paying much attention yet and many of them have no firm opinion of either politician.
One other caveat: these are polls of registered voters, not “likely voters,” so they aren’t meant to capture the exact mix of people who will be casting ballots 13 months from now.
All that said, the polling underscores Johnson’s vulnerability in the early stages of the campaign. It also sheds some light on the nature of his political challenge.
The incumbent Johnson is less well known and has a more negative image than challenger Feingold, the former senator he defeated in 2010. Averaging Marquette’s August and September polls (a combined sample of 1,605 people), Johnson is viewed positively by 29% of registered voters and negatively by 33%. Feingold’s numbers are better --
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
Keep in mind that this is Craig Gilbert, one of the Journal Sentinel’s most partisan scribes.
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
Russ Feingold!? He can’t find a job outside of gubmint? Label him a CAREER politician every time his name comes up. Folks like him ARE the problem. GO AWAY already!!!!
Johnson has not nearly lived up to his promise as a Conservative. Maybe it is because of his proximity to GOPe Ryan and Priebus.
Anyway, Feingold would probably be just as good a choice at this point, maybe even better as a real Democrat is better than yet another GOPe type faking it as conservative.
The GOP is going to have a very difficult time holding the Senate next year.
Johnson is taking the fight to Hillary in his investigation of foreign hackers accessing her server. Feingold wouldn’t do that. And never forget, Johnson’s question on Benghazi elicited Hillary’s infamous respnse, “At this point, what difference does it make?”
Feingold would never have done that.
It makes a BIG difference whether we elect Johnson, or Feingold.
I’ll just scream if that horrid Feingold defeats Senator Ron Johnson!
I very much like Ron Johnson!!!
Johnson’s a sell-out. Screw him!
The Journal Sentinel was sold today to Gannett, many currently on the staff are going to lose their jobs.
“It makes a BIG difference whether we elect Johnson, or Feingold.”
As you know, Rusty and I go waaaay back to Operation Desert Shield/Storm. I will NEVER vote for him; he is a condescending jackass in real life.
But, I WILL hold my nose and vote for Johnson. And so will a lot of other Wisconsinites outside of Dane and Milwaukee Counties. :)
They all deserve to lose their jobs, as far as I’m concerned.
GO AWAY already!!!!
I am afraid he is going to be the next Senator from Wisconsin. I hope not but I think it could happen.
I hope you are right. Johnson has cast many votes that I can’t agree with. But, he has been incredible on others. Feingold would be a real setback.
Won mainly because of Tea Party support. Now has spent most of his term back stabbing the Tea Party.
Oh good grief, Ryan and Johnson are both excellent conservative representatives for their people. Remember that Wisconsin contains Milwaukee and (shudder) Madison...two cities that would be better located in Minnesota or Oregon.. The rest of Wisconsin sometimes can't overpower these liberal ratholes and thus suffer the effects of being surrounded by idiots.
I agree. I also WILL hold my nose. Each and every senate race is important. I cannot stand that little weazle Feingold. Had enough of him. I also have called and e-mailed Johnson’s office several times on lousy votes. Call and voice your opposition.
If it weren’t for voter fraud, we’d have had WI in the Red State column last two prez elections, IMHO. They bused lots up here from Chi town. But now, zippy is importing more and more illegals to vote Dem. Giving them money and allowing them to vote.
So do keep all this in mind. This is not your dad’s Oldsmobile any more. New game, same state.
“Call and voice your opposition.”
Got ‘em all on Speed Dial! :)
“The rest of Wisconsin sometimes can’t overpower these liberal rat holes and thus suffer the effects of being surrounded by idiots.”
BUMP! We do our best where we can, You Betcha! :)
I was born in White Lake, Langlade county, have many relatives there and in Suring, Oconto county....raised and schooled in Milwaukee and High school at Catholic Memorial in Waukesha......where are you in Wisconsin??
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