Pro-Life Candidate Vitter Leads in Louisiana, Johnson Trails in Wisconsin
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
June 29, 2010
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — New polls of two key Senate races shows a pro-life candidate leading in Louisiana while another pro-life candidate trails in Wisconsin. The surveys have Sen. David Vitter ahead in Wisconsin while Ron Johnson is behind pro-abortion Sen. Russ Feingold in a marquee matchup in Wisconsin.
Louisiana’s race for the U.S. Senate looks largely the same way it has since the beginning of the year, with incumbent Republican David Vitter continuing to earn over 50% of the vote.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters finds Vitter, who is seeking a second six-year term, with 53% support.
His Democratic challenger, Congressman Charlie Melancon, picks up 35% of the vote while three percent favor another candidate and nine percent are undecided.
Vitter has a 100 percent pro-life voting record from the National Right to Life Committee while Melancon has voted right on pro-life issues but upset the organization with his vote on the DISCLOSE Act, which would place stringent limits on the ability of pro-life groups to inform the public about legislative and political happenings.
Meanwhile, a new Public Policy Polling institute survey of the Wisconsin Senate race finds it is looking more and more likely that Wisconsin will be in the top tier of competitive Senate races this fall
Feingold leads pro-life challenger Ron Johnson by only two points, 45-43.
"Wisconsin voters are evenly divided in their feelings about Feingold with 42% giving him good marks and 42% think he’s doing a poor job. Feingold’s reviews are nearly completely polarized along party lines, with 71% of Democrats approving of him and 72% of Republicans disapproving. Independents are also against him by a 39/46 margin, reflecting their unhappiness with most all incumbents across the country right now," the polling firm says,
The good news for Johnson is that he has the chance to earn the support of Wisconsin voters.
Johnson is largely unknown to voters in the state and 62 percent have no opinion of him — giving him a chance to define himself with a positive image.
"Johnson’s anonymity, in contrast to [former Governor Tommy] Thompson, actually help GOP prospects for winning the seat," PPP said. "Thompson’s popularity has been on the decline since he was elected to his fourth term as Governor, and our last poll before he decided not to run had found him with a negative 40/44 favorability spread. A fresher face may be helpful for Republicans as they try to pull off the upset in this race."
Johnson has the support of Wisconsin Right to Life, with WRTL PAC chair Bonnie Pfaff saying its endorsement of Johnson is based on his strong belief in the sanctity of human life, his exceptional leadership background and his outstanding credibility.
"Ron Johnson is an individual who believes that protecting the most vulnerable members of the human family is the right thing to do," said Pfaff. "He will work in Congress to help create a culture of life, where every human being is welcomed and protected."
Looking back at the Louisiana Senate race, since January Vitter’s support has never fallen below the 50% mark considered critical for incumbents, ranging instead from 52% to 57%. Melancon, by contrast, has been unable to break out of the 30s, with his support holding in the 33% to 36% range.
Vitter leads by nearly 30 points among male voters and by a more modest 11 points among women. He holds a three-to-one lead among voters not affiliated with either major party.
Related web sites:
Louisiana Right to Life – https://www.prolifelouisiana.org
Wisconsin Right to Life – https://www.wrtl.org
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