Sanders takes double-digit lead over Democratic field in poll
MADISON - Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has taken a double-digit lead over his Democratic rivals in Wisconsin, according to a new poll.
The latest survey from Marquette University Law School, released Thursday, shows support for Sanders as the Democratic presidential nominee has surged since January, rising 10 percentage points among registered voters to 29%.
The poll also underscored the battleground Wisconsin will likely play in November, showing President Donald Trump statistically tied with each Democratic candidate seeking his office.
Sanders’ growing popularity among Wisconsin Democrats as their choice to run against Trump follows primary contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada — all states where Sanders won or tied for first.
Sanders, who won the 2016 Democratic presidential primary election in
Wisconsin, tops former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who now has the second-most support at 17% following heavy advertising in the state even though he hasn’t been on a ballot yet this primary cycle.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, meanwhile, has dropped in support
among Wisconsin Democrats — placing third at 15% in the latest poll — after leading in polls for months.
Trump’s popularity also remains stable in Wisconsin, according to the poll, with his job approval and disapproval tied at 48% — the first time the president’s approval has not been below his level of disapproval. In a head-to-head match-up, Sanders and Trump were statistically tied.
Six weeks before Wisconsin’s April 7 presidential primary election, Sanders and Biden have switched places in measures of support.
Since November, support among Wisconsin’s Democratic voters for Sanders has grown from 17% to 29%, while support for Biden has fallen from 30% to 15%.
The latest Marquette University Law
School poll comes after two recent surveys of Wisconsin voters that revealed very different measures of support: One by the Elections Research Center of the University of WisconsinMadison showing Sanders with twice the support of any Democrat in the field and a double-digit lead over President Donald Trump; and another by Quinnipiac University showing Trump leading every Democratic candidate by at least 7 percentage points.
Both surveys were conducted after contests in Iowa and New Hampshire (where Sanders got the most Democratic votes) but before Saturday’s Nevada caucuses, which Sanders won handily.
More than two dozen states will vote between now and Wisconsin’s primary contest.
In January, Trump’s support among Wisconsin voters was steady with 48% approving of the way he is handling his job as president while 49% disapproved — better than his standing in national polling at the time.
Biden was leading in support among Democratic Wisconsin primary voters in January, before the former vice president’s lackluster performance in the Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada contests.
Then, Biden had 23% support while Sanders had 19% support. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg earned the third-most support at 15%, and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts had the backing of 14%.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who had not yet appeared on a debate stage at that time, and businessman Andrew Yang, who has since dropped out of the race, each had 6% support. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota had 4% support in the January poll.
Tony Evers vs. the GOP-controlled Legislature
Wisconsin voters were polled as Republican
lawmakers who control the state Legislature wound down their work for year.
The lawmakers will leave the Capitol without taking up a financial package for schools Evers called for that also lowers property taxes.
The latest Marquette University Law School poll showed public opinion on school spending mirrors voters’ thoughts in a poll released in fall of 2018, when Evers was elected governor. Fifty-six percent said they’d rather see more funding for schools than lower property taxes, while 38% said they wanted the tax relief.
Evers overall has a higher job approval among Wisconsin voters than the GOP-controlled Legislature.
More than half — 51% — said they approve of how the governor is doing his job, while 38% disapprove. For the Legislature, 46% approve and 40% disapprove.