PPP: 45% Feingold (D), 43% Johnson (R) -- Is Feingold in trouble?

[BrentWil]

I found this new poll to be shocking. What is going on in WI? I thought this seat was VERY safe. Anyone with any inside info?

Anyone from WI that can tell me who the hell Ron Johnson is and why he is polling this high?

http://www.pollster.com/blogs/wi_2010_sen_ppp_62627.php

[ParkieDem]

1. It's not "safe"

But it's unlikely Feingold will lose. In this environment in a state that's only marginally Democratic, he's getting a stronger challenge than he normally would have.

But I'm not worried.

[Ozymanithrax]

2. This is not a good year for incumbents, even good incumbants...

The electorate is pissed off, scared, and suffering from voluntary amnesia about what things are like under a Republican administration.

[WI_DEM]

3. Johnson has been on the air continuously for a month while Feingold hasn't

that is the biggest reason. I see his commercials all the time.

[BrentWil]

4. I was also worried that the poll had his approval/disapproval at 42/42.

That is not a place I would want to be, as an incumbent.

[ShadowLiberal]

11. That probably explains things then

I've seen it before where one uber rich candidate got on the air way earlier then anyone, and built up a huge lead, only to go down in flames once his opponents started to hit back against him on the air.

[ProSense]

5. I don't think he's in trouble. His approval was a little higher in 2004

He should kick this teabagger's butt.

LIKELY DEMOCRATIC WISCONSIN -- Russ Feingold, D

2004: Feingold 55%, Tim Michels (R) 44%

Feingold has not won any of his three terms with landslide margins, and Republicans think they can make a run at him this year. Their initial hope hung on former Gov. Tommy G. Thompson, George W. Bush's first Health and Human Services secretary, who waited until April to rule himself out. GOP officials since have turned to the relatively late-starting campaign of wealthy businessman Ron Johnson, who's the current front-runner in a Sept. 14 primary against entrepreneur Dave Westlake.

link

On Johnson:

Every honest observer had questions about how the whirlwind campaign of millionaire Ron Johnson swept through the Republican Party of Wisconsin convention in May.

With no track record as a candidate, no particular association with any stands on particular issues and no statewide organization, Johnson announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate on the eve of the convention, shoved aside better-known, seemingly better-organized and arguably more serious candidates and secured the party endorsement.

<...>

Since Johnson was endorsed, his campaign has stirred more than its share of controversy.

Johnson stumbled badly in his first debate with his remaining foe in the September GOP primary race, Dave Westlake. Johnson criticized the Obama administration for trying to hold BP responsible for cleaning up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Then, when Russ Feingold’s campaign highlighted the Republican’s ridiculously pro-corporate statement, Johnson accused Feingold of playing politics. It was a bizarre exchange in which Johnson came off as unsure of where he stands, and his campaign seemed inept at best.

Then Johnson, who had initially positioned himself as a tea party candidate, appeared at a Rock River Patriots event in Jefferson County, where the crowd was underwhelmed by a candidate who the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported “wasn’t prepared.”

<...>

[FrenchieCat]

6. If he votes with the "R"s on the Financial Regs, does he thinks this is how to win?

Really? :wow:

[Catherina]

8. Maybe Tom can work your talking point into his next cartoon

[FrenchieCat]

9. Why would I care about a cartoon?

Should I be worshipping that instead of Feingold's "personality"? :shrug:

No one is asking Feingold to vote FOR the actual bill,
he is only being asked to vote to allow the bill onto the floor
for a vote.

[Telly Savalas]

12. Who are people supportive of passage of the bill going to vote for?

You really think a large number of folks in Wisconsin are going to give up on the guy and let a right wing nut take his seat because of this vote?

[Oregone]

7. But doncha think the magic invisible hand of capitalism will save him?

Come on...doesn't that always produce the best of all possible worlds?

[elocs]

10. No, I'm not worried. Johnson has been running a lot of ads, Feingold hasn't really started yet.

I know Republicans for whom Feingold is the only Democrat for whom they will vote, much as it was with Proxmire. Even if they disagree with Feingold they trust him and they are convinced he is honest.

[Sebastian Doyle]

18. Imagine that.

A Democrat who ACTS like a Democrat, and gets Republican votes. The very kind of Democrat that the DLC tells us "can't get elected" in so called "red" states.

If only we had a Russ Feingold to replace every Ben Nelson or Max Baucus out there, we would be so much better off in this country. :evilfrown:

[Greybnk48]

13. Feingold will win IMO.

Most of the people here love him.

[okieinpain]

14. the poll tweety ran yesterday, had feingold down 2 or 3 points. n/t.

[Aramchek]

15. a close race = Russ brings out his Soapbox of 'Principle'

[Tarheel_Dem]

16. +1

[Sebastian Doyle]

17. Does Wisconsin use electro-fraud machines?

If so, he's in trouble. Because as recent threads on this very board can testify, the DLC wants him gone more than the admitted Repukes do.