Barrett leads Falk in new poll

MILWAUKEE - With an increase in his primary polling lead, the handshakes and hellos might be a little more comforting for Tom Barrett.

“Having traveled all around the state now, whether people are liberals or conservatives, they are tired of all of this stuff,” said Barrett in Appleton.

Throughout his campaign, Barrett has said Governor Scott Walker is his focus.

A new Marquette Law School poll indicates Barrett's strategy might be a good idea.

The poll of registered voters gives Barrett a 17% lead over Democratic Primary opponent Kathleen Falk. Doug La Follette took 8% of the poll, with Kathleen Vinehout at 6%.

For the first time, the monthly poll also now shows Barrett is in a dead heat with Governor Walker. Barrett leads him by a percentage point among all registered voters. Among likely voters, Walker has the one point edge. Both counts are well within the poll's margin of error.

“I think voter turnout will be very intense, the winning candidate will be the one who can identify the voters and get them to the polls,” said Walker.

Despite trailing in the new poll, Falk's campaign is undeterred. In a statement, her communications director says, "the establishment, pundits and politicians have counted Kathleen and this movement out from the beginning, but it's the people who will decide this race..."

Of the Democratic primary voters polled, 19% are still undecided.

The Democratic and Republican recall primaries are next Tuesday. The general election is set for June 5th.

The poll also indicates President Barack Obama leads former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney 51-42 percent in Wisconsin in the 2012 presidential race.

• Click here to see the full poll results