Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) has the early edge in a hypothetical 2010 matchup with former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R), according to a Public Policy Polling survey conducted Nov. 20-22.
Feingold, who's seeking a fourth term, had a 50 percent to 41 percent lead over Thompson, who is unlikely to challenge Feingold but hasn't ruled out a Senate bid.
Neither Feingold nor Thompson is overwhelmingly popular, though Feingold's lead owes in part to having a better image in the state. Forty-five percent of respondents said they approve of his job performance, compared to 37 percent who disapprove. Thompson has an favorability rating of 38 percent and an unfavorability rating of 45 percent.
The senator is below the 50 percent threshold but has larger leads over the two declared Republicans, real estate developer Terrence Wall (48 percent to 34 percent) and businessman Dave Westlake (47 percent to 32 percent). Neither Republican is well-known statewide.
Feingold has the edge even though President Obama's approval rating is just 47 percent in a state he carried with 56 percent of the vote one year ago. And Wisconsin voters, by a 52 percent to 37 percent margin, disapprove rather than approve of the president's plans to overhaul health care.
CQ Politics rates the Wisconsin Senate race as Safe Democratic, a rating that probably would change if Thompson entered the race.
To see how the 2010 Senate races are shaping up, check out the CQ Politics' election map.
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Comments
Every even numbered year, Tommy Thompson is supposed to run for some office (Gov. or Sen.) in Wisconsin. Seeing is believing.
Posted by: NObama
| November 24, 2009 7:05 PM
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