Poll: Wis. Gov. Walker Holds Slim Lead

By Catalina Camia

USA TODAY

(USA TODAY) - A poll out Monday in the Wisconsin recall election shows the race tightening between GOP Gov. Scott Walker and his Democratic challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

The survey by Public Policy Polling shows Walker leading Barrett, 50% to 47%. Those numbers are down from a poll taken last week by Marquette University Law School, which showed the embattled Republican leading by seven points.

Wisconsin voters go to the polls Tuesday in a recall election that has national implications. USA TODAY's Judy Keen has a preview in today's editions.

Walker, elected in 2010, has drawn national headlines with his push to curb the collective bargaining rights of public employees' unions -- an effort aimed at controlling the state's budget.

Other states, such as Ohio, have passed similar legislation but the scenes of protests at the Wisconsin capital earlier this year left an indelible image. Outside groups are pumping millions of dollars to help Walker in Wisconsin, a top battleground in the presidential election.

In the poll by PPP, a Democratic firm, Barrett has a narrow lead over Walker among independent voters. "It's cliche but this is a race that really is going to completely come down to turnout," the polling firm says.

The survey of 1,226 voters was conducted Saturday and Sunday. It has a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points.