Tim Michels challenges latest Marquette Law School poll in gubernatorial race

GREEN BAY — After the latest Marquette University Law School poll showed the Republican gubernatorial candidate trailing Governor Tony Evers by 2 percentage points, Tim Michels, without evidence, claimed that was because “there’s a class of people out there who don’t talk to pollsters”.

Wednesday’s Marquette poll showed support for Evers at 45%, while Michels was at 43% and independent Joan Beglinger at 7%.

During a campaign stop at the Brown County GOP office on Thursday, Michels said he believed he was in fact in the polls.

“If the polls say we’re dead even right now, I believe in my heart that we’re up at least 5 to 10 (percentage) points,” Michels told a crowd of GOP party members.

The latest Fox News poll also shows Michels behind Evers, 46% to 49%.

Michels’ claims echo his GOP primary candidate Tim Ramthun, who claimed without evidence that his name was intentionally omitted from Marquette Law School’s June poll that showed him with just 3% support.

The claim was quickly refuted by returning officer Charles Franklin, who said Ramthun was included in the February, April and June polls, where he received 5%, 4% and 3%.

“I have no idea where it came from,” Franklin told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in a July interview. “It’s pretty well documented that we asked about him. People did pick him up and support him. But not a lot.”

After Michels beat former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch to win the GOP gubernatorial nomination, Wednesday’s poll provided the first glimpse into the gubernatorial race since the Aug. 9 primary.

The poll also showed that Evers was viewed favorably by 46% and unfavorably by 41%, while Michels was viewed favorably by 33% and unfavorably by 33%.

Sophia Voight can be contacted at svoight@postcrescent.com. Follow her on Twitter @sophia_voight.