* A new We Ask America poll has Secretary of State Jesse White thumping his Republican opponent 63-29…

Webster led White in only one category: Among likely Republican voters. But even among Republican respondents, White picked up 33 percent.

Even in Republican-heavy downstate, White registered a remarkable 58 percent to Webster’s 33 points in this survey.

* But the same poll found that Attorney General Lisa Madigan was leading her GOP rival 51-35…

Madigan was the overwhelming favorite among female respondents, who preferred her by a 55-30 margin. By contrast, the candidates split the male vote almost evenly.

The only region of the state where Madigan did not have a lead was downstate, where Schimpf held a 42-40 lead. Madigan garnered 74 percent of the Chicago vote to Schimpf’s 11 percent and nearly doubled up on Schimpf in suburban Cook County. […]

“Lisa Madigan’s numbers are incredibly strong in Chicago and substantial in suburban Cook. Her numbers among women voters remain high, but she splits the Independent vote in a year that some national prognosticators feel will be good for Republicans,” said We Ask America Chief Operating Officer Gregg Durham. “While GOP challenger Mike Webster does compete in the Collar Counties and downstate, Madigan’s funding advantage and skilled campaign team will make it hard for him to close the gap. Still, this race deserves to stay on our radar.”

SoS White won reelection in the huge GOP year of 2010 by a 70-27 margin. AG Madigan won 65-32 in that big GOP year. The new poll shows Madigan splitting the independent vote evenly with her GOP opponent 40-39, while White is winning it 57-29. The poll shows White winning every region by large margins, but Madigan is trailing Downstate and is essentially tied in the collar counties.

One quick takeaway: Lisa Madigan’s last name is truly hurting her relative to her previous popularity.

* The Question: Your thoughts on AG Lisa Madigan’s future?