The entry of former Sen. Russ Feingold (D) 鈥� a liberal icon 鈥� into the race against incumbent Senator Johnson has turned Wisconsin into a top Senate battleground. Johnson is now considered the most vulnerable incumbent this cycle. He beat Mr. Feingold in the great tea party-fueled wave of 2010, and now Feingold wants his seat back.
Feingold starts out with a big lead 鈥� 16 points and 9 points in the Marquette University and Public Policy Polling polls respectively. In 2014, National Journal ranked Johnson the ninth most conservative member of the United States Senate, in a state that leans Democratic in presidential election cycles. Late in 2014, Johnson began , but so far Wisconsin voters aren鈥檛 buying it.
The Cook Political Report and Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report call the race a tossup. Larry Sabato鈥檚 Crystal Ball says it leans Democrat.
