Wisconsin has cast its Electoral College Votes for the Democrat in five straight Presidential Election. However, in the last four elections no candidate has won a majority of Wisconsin’s popular vote and the last two elections were decided by less than half a percentage point. Al Gore edged George W. Bush by about 5,000 votes (out of 2.5 million) in Election 2000. John Kerry defeated Bush by 11,000 votes in Election 2004.

Early indications are that Election 2008 may provide another cliffhanger in the great state of Wisconsin. A match-up of the current frontrunners shows New York Senator Hillary Clinton with a statistically insignificant one-point lead over former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey show Clinton at 45% with Giuliani at 44%. Clinton leads by six points among women while Giuliani leads by five among men. Giuliani has a seven-point lead among voters not affiliated with either major political party.

Clinton holds slightly larger single-digit leads over other Republican hopefuls. She has a four-point edge over Fred Thompson (45% to 41%); a six-point advantage over John McCain (44% to 39%); and an eight point lead over Mitt Romney (46% to 38%). It is interesting to note how little Clinton’s support varies when matched against any of these Republicans.

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Clinton is the clear frontrunner in the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination. She leads in the national polls as well as in the early primary states of New Hampshire and Florida.

Among Republicans, Giuliani has been atop the national polls virtually all year, but is not nearly as solid a frontrunner as Clinton. The man known to some as America’s Mayor leads the GOP field in Florida’s Primary while Romney leads in New Hampshire.

Giuliani and Romney have traded barbs on the issue of immigration over the past week. Voters strongly support a series of measures to reduce illegal immigration including a universal ID card for foreign visitors, cutting off federal funds to sanctuary cities, and finishing a wall along the Mexican border. An earlier survey found strong support for strict employer sanctions and a proposal requiring proper identification to rent an apartment.

In Wisconsin, Clinton is viewed favorably by 50% and unfavorably by 49%. Those figures include 25% with a Very Favorable opinion and 29% with a Very Unfavorable view.

Giuliani is viewed favorably by 55% of Wisconsin voters and unfavorably by 40%. Twenty-one percent (21%) have a Very Favorable opinion, 19% hold a Very Unfavorable opinion.

Forty-eight percent (48%) have a favorable opinion of McCain while 45% offer a negative assessment.

For Thompson, the numbers are 45% favorable, 42% unfavorable.

Romney is the weakest in Wisconsin—41% favorable and 49% unfavorable.

Thirty-six percent (36%) of Wisconsin voters say that President Bush is doing a good or an excellent job. Forty-nine percent (49%) say he’s doing a poor job.

Governor Doyle isn’t earning great reviews either, but the overall assessment is a bit less negative than for the President. Thirty-four percent (34%) say Doyle is doing a good or an excellent job while 27% say poor.

Rasmussen Reports has recently released state polling data assessing Clinton’s prospects in Ohio, Florida, Oregon, New Hampshire, Michigan, Arkansas, and Colorado.

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