Tim Michels questions the integrity of the Marquette Law School Poll, says he is actually 'up 5 to 10 points' over Gov. Evers

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GREEN BAY - After the latest Marquette University Law School Poll showed Republican gubernatorial candidate trailing Gov. Tony Evers by 2 percentage points, Tim Michels claimed without evidence it's because "there's a class of people out there that does not talk to pollsters."

Wednesday's Marquette poll showed support for Evers at 45%, while Michels was at 43% and Independent Joan Beglinger was at 7%.

During a campaign stop at the Brown County Republican Party office Thursday, Michels said he believed he is actually up in the polls.

"If the polls say we're dead even right now, I believe in my heart that we are up at least 5 to 10 (percentage) points," Michels told a crowd of GOP party members.

Fox News' latest poll also shows Michels behind Evers, 46% to 49%.

Tim Michels, a Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor, launches Michels Freedom Tour on July 12 at his campaign headquarters on East Walnut Street in Green Bay. Michels trails Gov. Tony Evers by 2 percentage points in the governor's race, according to a recent Marquette University Law School Poll.
Tim Michels, a Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor, launches Michels Freedom Tour on July 12 at his campaign headquarters on East Walnut Street in Green Bay. Michels trails Gov. Tony Evers by 2 percentage points in the governor's race, according to a recent Marquette University Law School Poll.

Michels' claims echo his GOP primary candidate Tim Ramthun, who claimed without evidence his name was intentionally left off Marquette Law School's June poll that showed him with only 3% support.

The claim was quickly refuted by the poll director Charles Franklin, who said Ramthun was included in the February, April and June polls, where he polled at 5%, 4% and 3%.

"I have no idea where this is coming from," Franklin told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in a July interview. "It's pretty well documented we have asked about him. People have indeed chosen him and supported him. Just not very many."

After Michels defeated former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch to grab the GOP nomination for governor, Wednesday's poll gave the first insight into the governor race since the Aug. 9 primary.

The poll also showed Evers was viewed favorably by 46% and unfavorably by 41%, while Michels was viewed favorably by 33% and unfavorably by 33%.

Sophia Voight can be reached at svoight@postcrescent.com. Follow her on Twitter @sophia_voight.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Tim Michels disputes latest Marquette Law School Poll in governor race