Democratic incumbent Russ Feingold is leading in his bid for re-election to the U.S. Senate with just below 50 percent support, according to a poll of 500 likely Wisconsin voters by the conservative-leaning Rasmussen Reports.
After former Gov. Tommy Thompson announced he would not join the race, Feingold remains ahead of his three top Republican opponents, according to the poll.
Rasmussen's January and February polls had shown Feingold trailing Thompson in a close race, and its March poll had shown the two in a dead heat.
Former Wisconsin Commerce Secretary Richard Leinenkugel is rumored to be entering the race soon, and a hypothetical matchup in the poll showed 37 percent support for him compared to 48 percent for Feingold.
According to the poll, Feingold claimed 49 percent of the vote when matched against Terrence Wall, who received 43 percent of the vote.
Feingold received the same level of support when matched against Dave Westlake, who claimed 38 percent of the vote.
Over the past three surveys, Feingold has claimed between 47 and 51 percent of the vote against all opponents. He has only exceeded 50 percent support once in four surveys conducted by Rasmussen since January.
