Tommy Thompson Would Be Game-Changer in Wisconsin Senate Race

A new Rasmussen Reports poll indicates that former Gov. Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin would not make as big a splash if he challenges Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold as was found in a survey earlier this week. But Thompson, a Republican, would turn a contest that is not currently competitive into a horse race.

Thompson leads Feingold by 47 percent to 45 percent, with 3 percent preferring another candidate and 4 percent undecided, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted March 16. The margin of error is 4.5 points.

A Wisconsin Policy Research Poll conducted March 7-9 had earlier reported that Thompson led Feingold by 51 percent to 39 percent, with 9 percent undecided.

If Feingold only has to face the two declared candidates, he leads businessman Dave Westlake by 51 percent to 35 percent, with 15 percent preferring someone else or undecided, and he leads real estate developer Terrence Wall by 49 percent to 40 percent, with 12 percent preferring someone else or undecided.

Thompson is seen favorably by 59 percent of voters and unfavorably by 39 percent, while Feingold's favorable-to-unfavorable rating is 51 percent to 47 percent.

Both draw about equal levels of support from members of their own parties while Thompson leads among unaffiliated voters by 58 percent to 30 percent, with 12 percent preferring someone else or undecided. Thompson leads big among conservatives and Feingold among liberals, with Feingold leading among moderates by 57 percent to 32 percent, with 11 percent preferring someone else or undecided.

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