Wisconsin Voters Narrowly Against Walker Recall

The frenzied political atmosphere in Wisconsin for most of the year and the failure of the Democrats to take control of the State Senate in the recent recall elections appear to have dampened voters’ desire to recall Governor Scott Walker, according to a North Carolina polling firm.

When Public Policy Polling last polled the question in May, Wisconsinites narrowly favored booting Walker from office before his current term is up, with 50 percent for it and 47 percent against it. Now that margin has reversed (47-50).

Republicans, already almost unanimously against a recall, are now even more so (8 percent in favor and 89 percent opposed three months ago, and 6-94 now). On top of that, those in the middle of the fray, independents, have moved from 50-47 for a recall, just like the overall electorate, to 46-50 against.

Poll results show that voters are not particularly upset with Wisconsin's recall election results. Forty-three percent are happy with the outcomes, and 39 percent are unhappy. Since they took two seats but were unable to win a third for the majority, 17 percent of Democrats are happy, but 64 percent unhappy, and 19 percent not sure what to feel. Republicans are more unilaterally elated (73-13), and indepenedents split at 41-38.

Despite their narrow opposition now to the prospect of a Walker recall, if activists succeed in petitioning for one, the governor would likely fall, though by narrower margins than when Public Policy Polling last tested potential matchups in May.

Against his best-known and best-liked potential Democratic opponent, Russ Feingold, Walker would lose, 52-45, up from 52-42 previously. He would also trail the Democrat he beat by almost six points last fall, Tom Barrett, 48-47, an improvement on his 50-43 deficit in May.

However, former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold has said he will not be a Senate or gubernatorial candidate and that he will instead focus on teaching, writing, and leading Progressives United PAC, according to wispolitics.com.

Matched with former Rep. David Obey and current Rep. Ron Kind, Walker would prevail by three points based mostly on name recognition.

“A Scott Walker recall is still in the realm of possibility,” said Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling. “But Democrats really might need Russ Feingold to run if they want to knock off Walker.”

Public Policy Polling surveyed 830 Wisconsin voters from Aug. 12 to Aug. 14. The margin of error for the survey is +/- 3.4 percent. The poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. Public Policy Polling surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews and the company is a Democratic polling company.  However, expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that the company's surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.