Big spending in tightening state Senate race - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

By SCOTT BAUER
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Outside groups are spending big as the race for an open Wisconsin Senate seat shows signs of tightening.

Independent groups have poured nearly $8.8 million into the race so far, based on a tally by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Two new polls released Wednesday show that Democrat Tammy Baldwin appears to have closed the gap and perhaps taken the lead from Republican former Gov. Tommy Thompson.

A poll by Quinnipiac University shows both Baldwin and Thompson with 47% support. Thompson had led 50% to 44% in the last poll done a month ago.

But a Marquette University Law School poll has Baldwin leading 50% to 41%. That poll had a 4.2%age point margin of error.

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