SNC poll: Feingold holds solid lead News-Chronicle Incumbent U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold is leading by a solid margin in his re-election race against Republican newcomer Tim Michels, according to a poll taken during the first half of October by the St. Norbert College Survey Center. The poll, sponsored by Wisconsin Public Radio, shows Feingold leading among likely voters 56-33 percent, with 10 percent undecided. The poll has a plus-or-minus 5 percent margin of error. The poll was taken of 401 likely voters during the Oct. 4-13 period. Among those listed as unsure, Feingold leads 26-18 percent, although some 50 percent do not lean toward one candidate or the other. Feingold drew more support than Michels on all seven of the issues which survey center staff asked about: Iraq (51-30 percent), homeland policies against terrorism (52-31), the economy (55-29), health care-prescription drugs (57-24), taxes (52-30), education (56-24) and environment (58-22). While both sides are getting solid support from those polled who claim a party identification, Feingold has stronger support among Republicans (18 percent) than Michels among Democrats (6 percent). Feingold also draws 67 percent of the vote from those calling themselves independent, 47 percent from those listing their affiliation as other and 44 percent from those who aren't sure of their party identification. Michels' strongest support is in the 35-44 age groups, where he draws 38 percent of the support. The only education category Michels took was among voters who have not completed high school, 60-20. Feingold swept all of the income categories; Michels was closest among those making more than $100,000 a year, 47-42 percent. Feingold drew 55 percent of the men, 57 percent of the women.