Poll Shows Thompson Ahead Of Feingold In Senate Race

A new poll suggests that if Republican Tommy Thompson decides to get into the U.S. Senate race, he would defeat Democratic incumbent Russ Feingold.

The St. Norbert College Survey Center Poll released Tuesday shows Thompson with 45 percent support compared with 33 percent for Feingold.

Thompson, a former governor and U.S. secretary for Health and Human Services, fares much better than a generic Republican Feingold opponent. Feingold captures 40 percent compared with 37 percent for an unnamed Republican challenger.

Terrence Wall and Dave Westlake are running as Republicans but Thompson has flirted with getting into the race.

The telephone poll of 400 Wisconsin residents was done between March 23 and March 31 and has a margin of error of plus of minus 5 percentage points. It was sponsored by Wisconsin Public Radio.