WPRI

Residents becoming less pessimistic about state’s direction; see little recent change in schools 

State residents are less pessimistic about the future than they were last spring, even as a majority continue to disapprove of Gov. Scott Walker, according to a new statewide poll conducted for the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute. They are evenly split, according to the poll of 605 Wisconsinites, on whether he should be recalled.

Fifty-six percent of Wisconsinites somewhat or strongly disapprove of the way Walker is handling his job while 42 percent somewhat or strongly approve – numbers similar to six months ago, according to the poll.

Forty-nine percent of those polled between Oct. 23 and Oct. 26 are opposed to recalling Walker, however, while 47 percent are in favor – a virtual dead-heat. Directed by University of Chicago Professor Will Howell, the poll included cell phone users and has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points. Live interviews were conducted by Abt SRBI Inc., a polling firm based in New York City.

http://wpri.org/polls/Oct2011/poll103011.html