New Poll: Americans Backing Scott Walker over Government Employee Unions in Wisconsin Battle

A new poll from Rasmussen Reports found that voters across the nation learned toward backing Republican Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin over unionized government workers in their showdown.

Walker, who is looking to eliminate collective bargaining for everything but wages for state workers outside the public safety fields, won the backing of 48 percent of likely voters across the nation while 38 percent backed the unions. A similar margin -- 49 percent to 38 percent -- did not think teachers, police officers and firefighters should be allowed to strike. The poll also found that 36 percent think state employees get more than workers in the private sectors as opposed to 21 percent who think the private-sector employees earn more.As for public employees being able to unionize, the poll found Americans split down the middle -- with 45 percent backing the idea but the same number opposing it.

The poll of 1,000 likely voters was conducted on Feb. 18-19 and had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.

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