The fourth Marquette University Law School poll for the 2015 gubernatorial race finds Gov. Scott Walker and his Democratic challenger Mary Burke receiving the same level of support.
Both Burke and Walker received support from 46 percent of participants. Five percent of participants said they are undecided, while 1 percent indicated they will vote for someone other than Burke or Walker.
MULS interviewed 800 registered voters and 589 likely voters by telephone for the poll between Sept. 11-14.
Walker gained among likely voters while Burke gained among registered voters. From the last poll in August, Walker has gained five points among likely voters but lost three points among registered voters to Burke.
Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin wrote the shift in August and September polls “can be accounted for by shifting involvement by partisans.”
“In July and August, Democrats were more likely to vote than were Republicans, producing an advantage for Burke among likely voters,” Franklin said. “But in the September poll, it is Republicans who have an advantage in enthusiasm.”
Changes in either candidate preference and turnout can shift elections, Franklin wrote.
Registered voters favored a newly reinstated requirement for government issued voter IDs with photos. 61 percent of registered voters supported the federal appeals court ruling while 35 percent opposed it.
Burke’s campaign issued a Wednesday statement in response to the poll.
“Over the final seven weeks of this campaign the choice for Wisconsin voters is clear - a new direction with Mary Burke or the same failed, top down approach that puts those at the top and the special interests first with Gov. Walker," Burke said in the statement.
