FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 24, 2011 INTERVIEWS: Tom Jensen 919-744-6312 IF YOU HAVE BASIC METHODOLOGICAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL
[email protected], OR CONSULT THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF THE PRESS RELEASE Feingold Dems’ best shot for Kohl Senate seat Raleigh, N.C. – Despite being upset by first-time candidate Ron Johnson last fall, Russ Feingold is poised for a strong comeback to electoral politics in Wisconsin’s other Senate seat, if he chooses to run. With Herb Kohl’s recent retirement announcement, a number of candidates on both sides are considering bids in what could be one of the hottest Senate races in the country, and a tougher one for Democrats to hold than had Kohl run for another term. But while Democrats have a slight upper hand in the early going, no matter their candidate, their strongest choice would be Feingold, particularly against the most well-known Republican, former Governor Tommy Thompson. In February, Kohl was leading any of the Republicans PPP tested against him by seven to 15 points, and in December, led Thompson by nine. Now Thompson tops Rep. Tammy Baldwin by one and former Rep. Steve Kagen by three, and ties Rep. Ron Kind. But Feingold puts him away by ten points, 52-42. Feingold is better liked than Thompson by independents and has better numbers within his own party, so he wins with independents, 49-40, and earns 91% of Democrats’ votes and loses only 5% to Thompson, while taking 8% of Republicans and keeping Thompson at 87%. Feingold and Thompson are the heavy-hitters at the outset of this formative open-seat race, both known by well over 80% of voters, better than the 57% who have an opinion of Attorney General J.B.