The latest Marquette University (MU) Law School Poll was released on August 31, 2016. The results showed Hillary Clinton’s lead narrowing slightly over Donald Trump for the first time in months. Similarly, Russ Feingold’s constant lead over Ron Johnson has also started to shrink and Gov. Scott Walker sees an improvement in approval ratings.

Presidential Election

In a head to head matchup, the MU poll showed Hillary Clinton receiving 42 percent support from Wisconsin registered voters, and Donald Trump receiving 37 percent. 19 percent responded they will vote for neither candidate, will not vote or do not know how they will vote. In the August 10 poll, Clinton received 46 percent of the vote and Trump 36 percent.

Among likely voters, Clinton received 45 percent and Trump received 42 percent support. When the poll pitted the two front runners against third party candidates Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, Clinton received 37 percent support of likely voters, Trump received 32 percent, Johnson 11, and Stein seven. To participate in the general election debates that begin in September, a candidate must receive 15 percent in an average of five national public polls. It is unclear right now whether the former Governor of New Mexico and Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson will meet this threshold. Currently, Johnson is polling around eight percent nationally.

Senate Election

The MU poll found Russ Feingold’s lead tightening over Ron Johnson in a head to head matchup, with Feingold ahead 46 percent to 42 percent among registered voters, with nine percent having no opinion in the race. In the August poll Feingold lead by 49 percent to 43 percent.

When Libertarian candidate Phil Anderson was included in the polling, Feingold received 42 percent, Johnson received 38 percent and Anderson received eight percent of registered voters, and 12 percent with no opinion. Among likely voters Feingold still leads with 45 percent, Johnson and Anderson received 42 and six percent, respectively.

In approval ratings, Feingold received a 40 percent favorability rating, with 35 percent viewing him unfavorably, and 25 percent with no opinion. 33 percent viewed Johnson favorably, and 34 percent viewed the senator unfavorably. Surprisingly, the poll showed 32 percent of voters still have no opinion of Johnson, suggesting he may still lack some name recognition around the state.

Governor Walker

Gov. Walker received more positive approval ratings, compared to the last several polls. In this poll, 43 percent approved and 49 percent disapproved of his handling of his job. In the previous August poll Walker received a 38 percent approval rating and 59 percent disapproval rating.

President Barack Obama’s job approval ratings dipped slightly from last month, receiving a 49 percent approval and 45 percent disapproval. Earlier in the month, 53 percent approved and 41 percent disapproved.

The MU poll was conducted August 25-28, 2016. The margin of error in the poll is +/- 4.5 percentage points.