MADISON, Wis. -- A majority of state residents favor a smoking ban for all bars, restaurants and work places in Wisconsin, according to a new poll by WISC-TV.

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In the telephone survey conducted Wednesday and Thursday, a statewide smoking ban was favored by 54 percent of likely voters and opposed by 35 percent. Eleven percent of respondents said they were not sure.

Among Democrats, 69 percent favored the ban and 19 percent were opposed, with 12 percent not sure. Independents also favored a ban, but with a closer margin. For Independents, 56 percent said they favored a ban, 33 percent were opposed and 11 percent were not sure.

According to the poll, the majority of Republicans were opposed to a statewide smoking ban, with 56 percent opposing it and 36 percent in favor of a ban. Eight percent were not sure.

The firm Research 2000 conducted the statewide poll, which was paid for by WISC-TV. Around 600 likely voters who vote regularly in state elections participated in the telephone survey. The margin of error is no more than plus or minus 4 percentage points.

A closer look at the numbers shows that the ban is most popular in Madison, with 65 percent supporting it, 21 percent opposed and 14 percent not sure. That's followed by the Milwaukee metro area, where 57 percent support it, 32 are opposed and 11 percent not sure.

In the La Crosse and Eau Claire areas, 54 percent favor it, 34 percent are opposed and 12 percent are not sure. The ban has the least amount of support in Green Bay, with 49 percent in favor, 40 percent opposed and 11 percent not sure.

Overall, 50 percent of men favored with ban and 41 percent were opposed with 9 percent not sure. Among women, 58 percent favored it and 29 percent were opposed with 13 percent not sure.