A new poll shows Governor Governor Walker's ideological war on unions has lost the support of most Wisconsinites. Republicans are the only group who strongly support Walker.
Opinions polls show sharp divisions on Walker
In one new survey, 54% of Wisconsinites disapprove of Walker's performance while 43% approve. Walker is viewed less favorably than either of his main antagonists in the state's stormy budget debate: public employee unions and Democrats in the Legislature. And after just two months in office, he inspires more intense feelings - pro and con - than President Barack Obama does in Wisconsin.
Those findings come from a statewide poll of 603 adults taken Feb. 27 through Tuesday for a conservative think tank that has surveyed regularly in the state, the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute.
Walker and the Republicans taking flamethrowers to Wisconsin Public Employees has NOT resonated with the Public, or created the resentment of Public Employees they had hoped.
"He's not winning the message battle at this point," said University of Wisconsin political scientist Ken Goldstein, who conducted the poll.
Whether Walker feels public pressure to seek a compromise with Democrats remains to be seen. He is fond of saying polls don't concern him.
Perhaps public pressure doesn't concern Walker or his financial backers, but it should concern his party's top strategists and Party leaders (all of who support Walker publicly). National polls also show popular disapproval of Walker's union busting tactics.
Most Wisconsinites also disapprove of Walker's "Budget Repair" Bill by a narrower margin.
The WPRI survey shows fierce division over the governor's budget-repair bill - 46% support it and 51% oppose it - but also public hunger for a resolution.
When asked whether Walker should "stand strong for the plan he has proposed no matter how long the protests go on" or "negotiate with Democrats and public employees' unions in order to find a compromise solution," a large majority - 65% - said the governor should negotiate to find a compromise, while 33% said "stand strong."
Walker's disapproval numbers have soared by 19% since November.
In the WPRI survey from mid-November, 45% of Wisconsinites viewed Walker favorably and 35% viewed him unfavorably.
Worst of all for Walker and the Republican State Senators.
But in the new poll, 62% of independents think the state is on the wrong track, 57% disapprove of Walker's job performance, and 59% have an unfavorable view of him.
Wisconsinites want to see BOTH sides compromise. If Walker sticks to his maximal attack on workers rights to unionize contained in his "Budget Repair" bill he risks alienating many more Wisconsinites, who just want their State and local Governments to work and aren't spoiling for the war on unions that their Governor seems intent on perusing.
Divide an conquer isn't going to work this time.