None of the four Republican candidates for U.S. Senate have captured the 60 percent support needed to win the Republican Party of Wisconsin endorsement.
Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald came closest, getting 51 percent in the final round of voting. Former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann came in second with 49 percent. Hedge fund manager Eric Hovde was the first candidate eliminated after he got just 16 percent of the vote in the first round. Former Gov. Tommy Thompson dropped out in the second round when he came in third with 18 percent.
The endorsement would have provided the winner with money and other support from the party. Hovde and Thompson's campaigns downplayed their early exits, saying the vote isn't indicative of who will win in the Aug. 14 primary.
| Approve: | 48.3% |
| Disapprove: | 48.0% |
| Spread: | +0.3% |
| Republican: | 39.7% |
| Democrat: | 42.0% |
| Spread: | +2.3% |
| Right Direction: | 31.7% |
| Wrong Track: | 59.2% |
| Spread: | -27.5% |
| Approve: | 14.8% |
| Disapprove: | 75.2% |
| Spread: | -60.4% |
