U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), has surged to a five point lead in the race for the U.S. Senate in Wisconsin, according to a new poll conducted for the campaign.

Baldwin now leads former Gov. Tommy Thompson by 50 percent to 45 percent.

The dramatic shift in the race comes after aggressive advertising by the Baldwin campaign and other groups highlighting Thompson’s advocacy for corporate interests as a Washington lobbyist. Voters now see Baldwin as much more likely to stand up for the middle class and protect Medicare.

Thompson had experienced a post-primary bounce in the polls, but that appears now to have completely dissipated.

“Now that this race is down to just two candidates, the choice could not be clearer,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which has endorsed Baldwin. “Tammy’s strength is her long record of standing up for Wisconsin’s working families, and voters are discovering that’s not what Tommy Thompson has been doing in recent years.”

Democracy for America and Public Policy Polling confirmed the shift in Wisconsin.

Their new poll released this afternoon finds Tammy Baldwin leading Tommy Thompson 48 percent to 45 percent. The polling memo is here.

Tags: LGBT Politicians, Politics, Poll, Tammy Baldwin, Tommy Thompson, U.S. Senate

Filed under: Wisconsin