MILWAUKEE (WTAQ) - A new poll says Democrat Tammy Baldwin has the edge in becoming Wisconsin's next U.S. senator -- unless Tommy Thompson's her final opponent.

48 percent of the 716 registered voters polled by the Marquette Law School said they prefer the former Republican governor, to 44 percent for House Democrat Baldwin.

But the poll said Baldwin would defeat 2 other Republican hopefuls -- former Congressman Mark Neumann 44-40 percent, and Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald 48-42. Also, the poll said only Thompson has any real statewide name recognition with just over 8 months until Election Day.

44 percent gave Thompson a favorable rating, and only 18 percent said they didn't know enough about ex-governor to form an opinion. But 55 percent said they were not sure what to think about Fitzgerald yet. And 50 percent didn't know enough about Newmann -- even though he ran a statewide primary for governor last year and finished behind Scott Walker.

Also, Baldwin has some work to do in the name recognition department. 49 percent in the Marquette poll said they didn't know about her as the lone Democratic hopeful to replace Herb Kohl in November.