A Ryan Rally? Romney Takes Lead in Latest Wisconsin Poll

It’s not completely clear how much U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan has impacted presumptive Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s campaign. But in Wisconsin, Romney now has a slight lead among likely voters in the first poll released since Romney's announcement Saturday.

A Rasmussen Reports poll released Thursday shows Romney with 48 percent support in Wisconsin to President Barack Obama’s 47 percent. Romney, who trailed Obama by three points in late July, has turned the tables in the state. According to Rasmussen, it’s the largest level of Republican support to this point in the state.

The Rasmussen poll was sent to 500 likely voters, and has a 4.5 percent margin of error.

According to a Quinnipiac University Poll released Aug. 8, Obama held a six-point lead over Ryan in the Badger State. Nationally, the election remains a toss up, according to Rasmussen.

The role the Ryan pick played in Romney’s boost in the polls isn’t clear. However, Ryan is viewed favorably by 57 percent of Wisconsin voters, and 39 percent of voters view him “very favorably.” In fact, 46 percent of voters polled said they were more likely to vote for Romney based on his VP pick.

Romney selected Ryan as his running mate on Saturday, and the two hit the campaign trail immediately making two stops in North Carolina before holding a rally in Waukesha in front of some 13,000 supporters.