Who is Mary Burke? Both sides in gubernatorial race looking to define her

MADISON (WITI) -- Defining the opponent: It's one of the keys to winning an election -- and the latest Marquette University Law School Poll has some interesting findings that show Governor Scott Walker may have an opening to define his Democratic challenger, Mary Burke.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. If you're wondering why you've seen a blitz of ads in the governor's race a month before Labor Day -- it's because both sides are trying to strike first.

Governor Scott Walker recently led a group of Harley-Davidson motorcyclists in a statewide campaign tour.

Gov. Walker's image is solidified as the Harley-riding, conservative architect of Act 10 -- who balanced the budget, cut taxes and, according to two-thirds, "gets things done."

"They know my record. They know I say what I'm going to do -- then I go out and do it. When they compare that to what Mary Burke has done, I think it's a stark contrast," Gov. Walker said.

His likely opponent, on the other hand, hasn't defined herself yet, according to the most recent Marquette University Law School Poll. Nearly half of the state's registered voters say they don't know enough about Burke to form an opinion.

"Well, that takes time, and over the next three-and-a-half months, that's the chore I have set out for me, is to make sure people do get to know me, what kind of governor I'd be, how I'm going to lead the state forward," Burke said.

Gov. Walker sees this window as a chance to fill in the picture. He has launched an advertising campaign designed to paint Burke as an "outsourcer." He says that's because Burke is a relative newcomer to politics, and it's a different campaign from the last two.

"Before, they knew about me. They knew about Tom Barrett. They knew our records, and they could compare them. Right now, most people don't know a whole lot about Mary Burke, other than what she's put in her ads," Gov. Walker said.

Burke wants voters to see her as a competent businesswoman, who would do a better job handling economic issues.

"There's certain ways that you get your message across and I've been on the campaign trail since least October. I've put over 40,000 miles on my Ford Escape, so I'd say I've been pretty darn aggressive about getting out there and making sure people have a chance to get to know me," Burke said.

"It's perfectly clear that Governor Walker is a figure that everybody -- almost -- has made up their mind about," Marquette University Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin said.

Franklin says the battle now is over who gets to define Burke.

"The advertising war didn't really ramp up in serious ways until very recently. I think that when the race itself is a topic on every front page and is at the lead of every newscast, we're going to see the public come to much greater awareness of her," Franklin said.

Burke faces a primary challenge from state Representative Brett Hulsey.

Experts say as we approach the primary election, coming up on August 12th, that will help to raise Burke's profile.

Gov. Walker, as the incumbent, is not being challenged.

CLICK HERE for full details on the latest Marquette University Law School Poll -- released last week Wednesday, July 23rd.