Poll: Darling Would Win a Recall Election; Three Republicans Vulnerable

Leaders of an effort to recall state Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) may be optimistic about their chances to unseat the senator, but a poll released Tuesday indicates they may have an uphill battle on their hands.

The poll by the Daily Kos and Public Policy Polling says Darling would win in a recall election with 52 percent of the vote to 44 percent to an unnamed Democratic opponent. The poll has a 2 percent margin of error.

Darling has represented the 8th District, which includes includes Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Fox Point, River Hills, Mequon, Thiensville, Menomonee Falls and Germantown since 1992, and won by a slim margin against Democrat Sheldon Wasserman in 2008.

Daily Kos is a liberal website that supports the recall of Wisconsin's Republican senators as a way for Democrats to retake control of the Senate.

Recalls of eight Republican senators are driven by backlash over the passage of the budget repair bill, which eliminates most collective bargaining for public employees, by the Republican-controlled Senate and Assembly.

Those behind the recall of Darling still need to gathered more than 20,000 signatures by May 2 to force an election. Organizers have not said how many signatures they've gathered so far.

Efforts are under way to recall 14 state senators, including six of Wisconsin's 14 Democratic senators.

The poll looked at the eight Republican senators who are eligible for recall this spring.

The poll asked participants whether they would vote for the incumbent senator in a recall or an unnamed Democratic opponent.

According to so-called "topline" results of the poll, only three incumbent Republicans appear to be in danger of losing a recall election.

The results included:

• Sen. Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse), who trails a generic Democrat by 55 percent to 41 percent.
• Sen. Randy Hopper, (R-Fond du Lac), who trails 49 percent to 44 percent.
• Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Ripon), who trails by 49 percent to 47 percent.

In addition to Darling, four other Republicans have leads over their Democrats opponents if a recall was held today, according to the poll.

• Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) leads 45 percent to 43 percent.
• Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) leads 48 percent to 44 percent.
• Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) leads 56 percent to 34 percent.
• Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) leads 60-32

Candidates are allowed a year in office before a recall election can be forced, so, Gov. Scott Walker and 11 of the 19 State Senate Republicans are safe from any recall attempts.

. He lost in 2008 by 1,000 votes or 1 percent.

Daily Kos did not poll in the Democratic districts.