UNDATED (WSAU) Republicans seem to like the idea of Tommy Thompson running against U-S Senate Democrat Russ Feingold in November. The former governor is still considering whether to take on the 18-year incumbent. But the firm of Public Policy Polling now says 45-percent of Wisconsin Republicans support Thompson, while 40-percent are backing others. Last November, G-O-P voters actually preferred Feingold by a six-point margin.

Overall, the poll gives Feingold a three-point lead over Thompson, 47-to-44 percent. And that’s statistically a dead heat, since the lead is smaller than the poll’s margin-of-error of three-point-seven percent.

Dean Debman, the head of the polling firm, said it would be a competitive race if Thompson decides to run. Otherwise, Debman says Feingold should be safe. He leads both current Republican candidates by wide margins. The poll has him leading Madison developer Terrence Wall 48-to-34 percent, and Watertown businessman Dave Westlake 48-31.