Poll: Democratic gubernatorial candidates need exposure

The first poll of 2018 from the Marquette University Law School found 95 percent of Wisconsin voters have an opinion of Gov. Scott Walker — and that opinion is evenly divided. Walker’s ratings are at 48 percent favorable and 48 percent unfavorable — nearly the same as June 2017.

Meanwhile, the poll shows the Democrats who want to challenge Walker in November have a long way to go toward making an impression on voters. The same is true for the Republican candidates seeking to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, whose rating is 37 percent favorable and 39 percent unfavorable.

More than 60 percent of voters — and often over 80 percent of respondents overall — said they hadn’t heard enough or didn’t know a candidate well enough to offer a favorable or unfavorable opinion.

The Democratic primary for governor appears wide open — 44 percent didn’t know whom they would support. Only state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers, at 18 percent, polled in double digits.

Surveyed on participation in a partisan primary, about 32 percent will vote on the Republican ticket and 35 percent in the Democratic primary. About 17 percent said they will not vote and 13 percent didn’t know.

Among those who plan to vote in the GOP primary, 49 percent didn’t know whom they would support for U.S. Senate. Among those stating a preference, Kevin Nicholson was favored by 28 percent, while state Sen. Leah Vukmir was favored by 19 percent.

Despite the uncertainty about candidates, 53 percent of registered voters said they are very enthusiastic about this year’s elections. In March 2014, the last midterm election year, about 48 percent were very enthusiastic.

The poll was released during an “On the Issues” program at Marquette Law School’s Eckstein Hall March 5. Charles Franklin, director of the poll, and Mike Gousha, distinguished fellow in law and public policy, detailed the results.

The voters also were asked about the direction of the state, immigration and their opinion of President Donald Trump.

Some additional findings:

• Fifty-three percent said the state is headed in the right direction and 44 percent said it is on the wrong track.

• Regarding Act 10 — the GOP law that sharply curtailed collective bargaining for public employees in the state — voters remain stable in their views, with 46 percent favoring the legislation and 41 percent supporting a return to collective bargaining.

• Almost half of declared voters think the state is paying more in incentives than the Foxconn factory is worth, while 38 percent think the plant will provide at least as much value as the state’s investment. About 57 percent said the plant would substantially improve the economy of the greater Milwaukee area.

• A majority of voters are concerned the Foxconn plant will have a negative impact on water and environmental quality.

• Seventy-one percent of voters support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants currently working in the United States. About 14 percent said such individuals should stay as temporary guest workers and 9 percent say they should be deported.

• Eighty-six percent of voters said “DREAMers” should be able to stay and apply for citizenship.

• Wisconsin voters oppose building a wall along the border with Mexico, with 59 percent against it.

• Regarding Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election, over half the voters are very concerned or concerned.

• President Donald Trump’s approval rating is 43 percent. Disapproval is at 50 percent. Last June, the poll put Trump’s approval at 41 percent and disapproval at 51 percent.

The poll was conducted Feb. 25 to March 1 by interviewing 800 registered voters in the state by cellphone or landline. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.