Et tu, Feingold? (ap photo)
President Obama is having a rally in Madison, Wisconsin today. Guess who won’t be there? The latest Fox News poll (woot! Stirewalt!) has Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold trailing Republican challenger Ron Johnson, 44 percent to 52 percent. Just three percent are unsure (and one percent are supporting another candidate).
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine told CBS News’ “Early Show” that yeah, Feingold won’t be there — but he sidestepped whether Obama is a liability in that race.
I think that is the case that Senator Feingold will not be there. But there are other statewide candidates, the gubernatorial candidate and others, who are going to be there. So candidates make their own decisions about these things.
Feingold! Whatever next? The liberal senator has been critical of Obama on key issues –notably, war funding — but still.
Public Policy Polling had statistically identical results in the race a week ago, which Politico noted that pollsters attribute to:
“(A)n enormous enthusiasm gap” and a “malaise with Democratic voters” – a lethal combination for a state where President Barack Obama defeated Sen. John McCain by a breezy 14 points just two years ago.
“Wisconsin is seeing one of the most severe enthusiasm gaps in the country. If turnout matched 2008 Johnson would be leading Feingold only 47-46,” wrote PPP’s Tom Jensen, noting that if Democrats “wake up,” the Badger State has the potential to become a toss-up.
