Republican governor Scott Walker leads Democratic challenger Mary Burke 50–43 among likely voters in Marquette University Law School’s final poll before Tuesday’s election. Walker’s seven-percentage-point lead among likely voters represents a dramatic shift in his direction. The Wisconsin governor’s race was thought to be tied, as a Marquette poll showed earlier this month, and three recent polls showed the two candidates separated by just one point. The Marquette poll shows Walker’s lead among registered voters surveyed to be just one percentage point.
The bad news for Burke comes amid reports that her family fired her from Trek Bicycle Corp. for incompetence, according to Watchdog.org. The report claims Trek’s former human-resources director and three former employees said the sales team threatened to quit if Burke was not removed from her position as director of European operations following large financial losses overseas. Burke responded to the report this afternoon, telling the Green Bay Press-Gazette that it was a “desperate” attempt by Republicans to undermine her credibility. President Obama campaigned with Burke yesterday, and may have done more to damage support for Burke as he could not keep the crowd from walking out on him. Walker, meanwhile, appears to have gained momentum at just the right time.