Baton Rouge, LA- Based on a Magellan Strategies survey of 1,145 likely voters in Wisconsin, the mood is deplorable. Sixty-seven percent of voters think things in the country are on the wrong track. Despite getting 56% of the vote in 2008, President Obama’s job approval is an anemic 41%, while 52% disapprove.
Augmenting Obama’s problems in Wisconsin is the fact that a plurality of voters (43%) oppose Elena Kagan’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Voters are less likely to support her nomination on the grounds that as Dean of Harvard Law School she banned military recruiters from campus (55% less likely) and the fact that she has no judicial experience (54% less likely). As voters also learn that she will likely be a rubber stamp for Obama’s health care plan, opposition to her nomination jumps by more than 8 points.
With potential to shape the outcome of the Wisconsin U.S. Senate race, 48% of voters would be less likely to reelect incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold if he supported Kagan’s nomination. Feingold has a 2 point lead over Ron Johnson. Feingold’s support is primarily among Democrats (86% Feingold/8% Johnson). However, he also holds a slight lead over Johnson among Independent voters (41% Feingold/38% Johnson).
Download survey press release, toplines and crosstabs below.
WI US Senate-Elena Kagan Survey Press Release 072010