New poll shows close races between governor, U.S. Senate candidates

Voters are split in their support for Republican Gov. Scott Walker and democratic challenger Tony Evers, according to a new Marquette University Law School Poll.

Results released Wednesday show Evers and Walker each have 46 percent support among likely voters.

Among registered voters, Walker is up 46 percent to Evers' 44 percent.

"As you move past the primary, voters have gotten to learn about the challengers from both the Democratic and Republican parties. And they now with also likely voters, these are people that pay a lot more attention than average to elections," says poll director Charles Franklin. "They are more interested in it, they are a bit more knowledgeable about the candidates.

"So what that does is, it helps the challengers in both parties, because they are relatively better known among likely voters than they are among registered voters as a whole."

In the U.S. Senate Race, Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin holds a lead over Republican challenger Leah Vukmir.

Among likely voters, 49 percent support Baldwin while 47 percent support Vukmir.

Among registered voters, 51 percent support Baldwin and 43 percent support Vukmir.

Registered voters said the three most important issues in Wisconsin are jobs and the economy; K-12 education; and health coverage.

The fourth issue is roads.

Sixty-one percent of registered voters say marijuana should be "fully legalized and regulated like alcohol"; 36 percent oppose marijuana legalization.

Fifty-three percent of voters believe the state is heading in the right direction.

Forty-eight percent support Gov. Walker's job performance. Forty-five percent disapprove.