Early Polling Shows Recall Strength For Wisconsin Dems

Democrats are leading in two of three Senate recall races, according to published polling results.

The surveys were done June 23-26 by Public Policy Polling for the [Daily Kos] web site, which advocates the defeat of the Republican legislators.

In the 32nd Senate district, Republican incumbent Dan Kapanke trailed Democrat Jennifer Schilling 42% to 56% among likely voters. In the 18th Senate district, Republican incumbent Randy Hopper trailed Democrat Jessica King 47% to 50%. And in the 10th Senate district, GOP incumbent Sheila Harsdorf led Democrat Shelly Moore 50% to 45%.

There are nine recall races, six in districts held by Republicans and three held by Democrats.

Democrats would have to achieve a net gain of three seats to take control of the State Senate.

For policy, strategic and symbolic reasons, Republicans will heavily defend recalled State Seen. Alberta Darling, (R-River Hills).

Darling, a one-time board member at Planned Parenthood - - a current GOP budget target - -  has moved during her long legislative tenure from the now-invisible moderate wing of the GOP to its far-right darker side.

She holds a key partisan position as co-chair of the budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance, is sitting on a mountain of campaign cash, and represents core, deeply-red GOP voters in the heart of conservative talk radio territory.

Her campaign, and third-party groups like Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce already paying for radio spots, could easily spend $1 million on her election.