In the latest Marquette University Law School Poll, released today, Republican Gov. Scott Walker put more distance between himself and Democratic challenger Mary Burke.
Walker garnered 50 percent of likely voter support, while Burke pulled 43 percent of likely voters.
Among registered voters, Walker had 46 percent and Burke had 45 percent of respondent support.
This latest sample included 1,409 registered voters with a margin of error of 2.7 percent and 1,164 likely voters with a margin of error of 3 percent. Likely voters are those who have already voted or are certain they will vote on election day, Nov. 4.
Walker and Burke were tied at 47 percent among likely voters in the previous poll released Oct. 15.
Likely voters become a better indicator of the result as the election draws closer, said poll chief Charles Franklin. But the difference in polling among registered voters shows the turnout will play a large role in the outcome.
“Polls don’t vote, people do, and whatever our results show today…the determinants of the outcome are who shows up on election day,” Franklin said. “What you’re seeing here in the contrast between all registered voters in a one-point race and all likely voters, a seven-point race, is just how important differential turnout is.”