Walker Says He Expects Tight Race Come November

Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Mary Burke both say they expect a close race this year, even as the latest Marquette poll shows Walker preserving his lead.

Marquette’s March survey found Walker with a 48-to-41 percent lead over Burke, slightly up from the 47-to-41 percent edge he held in January. Asked about the results at a stop in Wausau, Walker said he still expected his race to be tight.

“Always better to be ahead than behind, but the only poll that really matters is the one that we take on November 4,” said Walker. “This is a state that elected me in the recall and then elected Barack Obama a few months later by about the same margin. In fact, my poll numbers and the president’s have been almost identical. So I assume it’s going to be a tight race.”

Other results were a mixed bag for Walker. The poll found his approval rating dropped from 51 percent in January to 47 percent in March. Only 43 percent said Walker cares about people like them.

The survey showed a growing familiarity with Burke, but 59 percent did not know enough about her to have an opinion. Among those who did know Burke, a slim majority viewed her negatively.

Speaking earlier in the day before the survey was released, Burke said polls would be up and down in this race.

“This race is going to be really tight, and I’m sure it’s going to be tight all the way down until November, so there’s going to be polls that come out between now and November that I’m sure will move a lot,” said Burke.

When it comes to the candidates’ cornerstone issues, 55 percent of those surveyed favored the tax cuts just signed into law by Walker, and 63 percent say they favor raising the minimum wage, a move supported by Burke.