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Poll: Wisconsin Senate Race Tightens

Johnson now within the margin of error

Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson is gaining on former Sen. Russ Feingold, whom he unseated in 2010. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson is gaining on former Sen. Russ Feingold, whom he unseated in 2010. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

A new poll shows the Wisconsin Senate race between Republican incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson and Democratic former Sen. Russ Feingold tightening.

The Marquette University Law School poll found 46 percent of likely voters supporting Feingold while 44 percent backed Johnson. In September, the same poll showed Feingold with a 5-point lead.

There was also a noticeable shift in the presidential race with Democrat Hillary Clinton leading GOP rival Donald Trump 46 percent to 42 percent among likely voters. Polling began the day before last Friday’s release of a 2005 video of Trump talking about making unwanted sexual advances toward women.

[Ratings Changes in 5 Senate Races]

“The publication appears to have caused a significant shift in Wisconsin voters’ attitudes, across several different demographics,” poll director Charles Franklin said in a press release.

Clinton led Trump by 2 points in September’s poll. 

The latest poll surveyed 878 likely voters by cell phone or landline from Oct. 6-9. The margin of error was 3.9 percentage points.

The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call rates the race as Leans Democratic.

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