Obama, Thompson lead in St. Norbert poll

President Barack Obama leads Republican challenger Mitt Romney 51 percent to 42 percent, according to a new St. Norbert College poll of likely voters.

Of undecided voters, 16 percent said they were leaning toward Obama, with 10 percent leaning toward Romney. Seventy-two percent said they were not sure.

When asked which candidate would be better on individual issues, Obama scored highest in reproductive rights for women (59 percent) and foreign policy (58 percent). Romney scored highest in federal budge deficit (51 percent) and the economy and unemployment (45 percent).

In the U.S. Senate race, Republican Tommy Thompson led Democrat Tammy Baldwin, 46 percent to 43 percent. Of those polled, 75 percent said they were totally committed to their candidate, 20 percent were somewhat committed and 5 percent said they might change their minds.

• Click here for the full poll results

The poll also asked voters of their feelings toward Obama, Gov. Scott Walker and Congress’ job performance. For Obama, 23 percent said they strongly approve, 31 percent approve, 16 percent disapprove and 28 percent strongly disapprove. For Walker, 30 percent strongly approve, 21 percent approve, 24 percent disapprove and 22 percent strongly disapprove. For Congress, less than one percent said they strongly approve, 19 percent approve, 43 percent disapprove and 17 percent disapprove.

The poll of 402 Wisconsin voters was taken between Oct. 25 and Oct. 29. Of those, 42 percent said they identified as Democrats and 32 percent Republicans; however, 57 percent called themselves very conservative or somewhat conservative, while 38 percent called themselves very liberal or somewhat liberal. The poll’s margin of error is five percentage points.