Wisconsin recall battle finally goes to voters
MADISON — The battle over Gov. Scott Walker's agenda has attracted millions of dollars from out of state, campaign volunteers from across the country and months of concentrated attention from the two major political parties.
But on Tuesday, the only voices that matter will be those of Wisconsin voters deciding whether to keep Walker or fire him and hand his job to the Milwaukee mayor. After more than a year in the national spotlight, both sides are preparing for a razor-thin margin.
Polls show Walker, a Republican just 17 months into his term, with a small lead over Democrat Tom Barrett.
"Now it's our turn to speak," an exuberant Barrett told campaign workers Monday in Portage. "We the people of the state of Wisconsin are going to reclaim our future."
During Monday's first campaign stop, Walker said he expects a close race, too, and he's focused on turning out voters who supported his efforts to take on public-employee unions.
"We want to move on and move forward," Walker said at a plastics plant near Madison. He was joined by his wife, Tonette, who wore a button that read "Luv My Gov."
Walker planned other campaign stops at a brewery in Stevens Point and a distillery in Green Bay before wrapping up with a nighttime rally in Milwaukee.
Barrett was spending most of Monday in western and northern Wisconsin before ending his day with a rally at a United Auto Workers union hall in Kenosha.
Walker is only the third governor in U.S. history to face a recall vote. The other two lost, most recently California Gov. Gray Davis in 2003. Wisconsin's recall election is a rematch of the 2010 governor's race in which Walker defeated Barrett by 5 percentage points.
Anger over Walker and his conservative agenda began building almost as soon as he took office in January 2011. Just a month into his term, Walker took the state by surprise with a proposal to effectively end collective bargaining rights for most state workers — a measure he said was needed to ease budget problems. The recall idea emerged soon thereafter.
But the recall petition drive couldn't officially start until November, months after Walker signed the union changes into law. Organizers hit the streets a week before Thanksgiving and spent two months gathering more than 900,000 signatures — about 360,000 more than were needed to trigger the election.
Retired teacher Jan Stebbins cast her ballot early for Barrett, just as she did two years ago. She said she's been offended by Walker, not by what he's done but "how he's done it."
Stebbins can't stand the division that's emerged in the past two years.
By Wednesday morning, she hopes the state "gets back to a little bit more unity," she said. "I don't know what will happen."
Todd Schober, a financial planner from Racine, voted for Walker in 2010 and plans to do so again on Tuesday.
"When is this going to end?" he asked after shaking his head and sighing. "I'm just going to be so glad when it's all over."
Walker, the 44-year-old son of a minister, has remained unflappable throughout the campaign just as he was during the massive protests that raged at the Statehouse for weeks as lawmakers debated his proposal.
Along the way, he's become a star among Republicans and the most successful fundraiser in Wisconsin politics, collecting at least $31 million from around the country since taking office. That obliterated his fundraising record of $11 million from 2010.
About $63 million has been spent on the race so far, including $16 million from conservative groups such as the Republican Governors Association, Americans for Prosperity and the National Rifle Association.
Democratic groups — including those funded by unions, the Democratic Governors Association and the Democratic National Committee — have poured in about $14 million, based on a tally from the government watchdog group the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
The majority of Walker's donations have come from people outside Wisconsin. Most of Barrett's $4.2 million came from inside the state.
The race has broad implications for national labor unions. It's also seen as a proxy fight for the presidential election, especially given the importance of Wisconsin and its 10 electoral votes.
President Barack Obama has kept his distance, just as he did during the unrest last year. Other prominent Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton, campaigned for Barrett in the week leading up to the vote.
White House press secretary Jay Carney was asked during a briefing Monday why Obama wasn't campaigning for Barrett.
"The president supports him, stands by him," Carney said, adding that Obama hopes Barrett prevails.
The president himself took to the social media micro-blogging site Twitter late Monday to send much the same message.
"It's Election Day in Wisconsin tomorrow," Obama tweeted, "and I'm standing by Tom Barrett. He'd make an outstanding governor. -bo"
Walker enlisted the support of several prominent national Republicans, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a self-proclaimed "union-buster."
Walker's lieutenant governor, Rebecca Kleefisch, and three Republican state senators also face recall votes Tuesday. And voters will fill a fourth state Senate seat after the Republican incumbent resigned rather than face the recall.
A Marquette University Law School poll released last week showed Walker with a narrow 7-percentage point lead over Barrett, 52 percent to 45 percent. The poll's margin of error was 4.1 percentage points. In the same poll two weeks earlier, Walker held a 6-point lead, 50 percent to 44 percent.
The poll also showed the deep division in Wisconsin, where 39 percent of respondents said they liked the job Walker has done and 38 percent said they did not like it. Twenty-one percent said they like what he's done, just not how he did it.
In the days leading up to the election, they expressed a mixture of anticipation and fatigue with the political turmoil.
In the working-class city of Janesville, signs on both sides of the election were scattered across the community, some just a few feet apart.
Retired businessman Dave Flury plans to support Walker. And he's worried about what will happen if Barrett wins.
"If Walker loses, shouldn't Republicans turn right around and recall Barrett?" Flury asked.
For months, voters have been inundated with telephone calls, campaign mail and television advertising. Barrett supporter John Oehrke is ready for all of it to end.
"It doesn't really matter who wins I guess," Oehrke said. "It's all crazy."
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Associated Press writers Todd Richmond in Fitchburg, Dinesh Ramde in Racine and Brian Bakst in Janesville contributed to this report.
Jun 7, 2012 at 12:11 a.m.
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Great post poo_koch, in psychology that’s called projection. So many disorders, I need to advise you in advance my degree is not in that area.
Jun 6, 2012 at 11:24 a.m.
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Yes, that sign sure speaks volumes about the Republican state senators that have been recalled.
Jun 6, 2012 at 9:55 a.m.
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Only 432 more irrelevant comments to 10,000 comments under your mutiple usernames RetiredAirForce_TedKennedy. Mega-trolling every fifteen minutes should get you there by Monday.
Jun 6, 2012 at 9:40 a.m.
Jun 6, 2012 at 9:04 a.m.
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"don't argue with poo" - RetiredAirForce, April 28 at 6:59 a.m
Jun 6, 2012 at 8:58 a.m.
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My posts are so irrelevant you can't keep yourself from replying. Nothing but a troll
Jun 6, 2012 at 8:08 a.m.
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Yes, RetiredAirForce, I've noticed your comments under other usernames have been increasing lately. Such a frenzy to reach your 10,000th irrelevant comment.
Jun 6, 2012 at 7:57 a.m.
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Seems only one person is worried about a 10,000 post and that happens to come from 2 usernames...interesting.
Jun 6, 2012 at 7:41 a.m.
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Funny attempt at trying to equate the recall of the governor to your own behavior. I guess that means your modus operandi of name calling and repeated criticism of offering nothing to discussions, while offer nothing yourself, isn't appreciated. I believe you just wanted to get closer to your 10,000th irrelevant comment faster and you did. Keep sniffing, but nobody here is going to pay attention or cares about when you and your family goes to vote. Another case of RetiredAirForce offering nothing to the discussion. Give your victim card another punch as you mega-troll with your near 10,000 irrelevant comments.
Jun 6, 2012 at 2:13 a.m.
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Sniff sniff sniff. Your tantrums have fallen flat with voters. Your claims of occupy whatever have fallen flat with voters. Your constant whining has fallen flat with voters. American's are growing more and more sick of people that want more and more from taxpayers while those in power try to appease the faux claims of social injustices. There is a vast difference in helping those in need and providing for those that want. The tide is turning in this country, too slowly for some, but it is turning. The next small step is persuading those on the national level to pass a budget, and spend only what they have. Expecting government to act in a fiscal manner is long overdue in this state and nation. I suspect you can go back to making your calls to mayors across the country as your claim of support to failing movements in our society.
Jun 6, 2012 at 1:32 a.m.
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Again, RetiredAirForce adds nothing to the discussion. Do you really think anybody on this site cares to know when you and your family are leaving to vote? When you repeatedly criticize others for adding nothing to discussions, you'd best be prepared to be the recipient of the same criticism. What goes around, comes around. And let me assure you, my name was not on the ballot and mirroring your behavior of the last 4 years is not what voters rejected. Give your victim card another punch as you mega-troll with your near 10,000 irrelevant comments.
Jun 5, 2012 at 10:12 p.m.
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The poo_koch troll uttered, "you think a narcissistic comment telling us you're on your way to the polls is adding something of any value or interest".
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How can I make this simple enough for you to understand? Okay, look at the headline of the story, then read only the words provided. Even the second sentence in the story provides the basis for it, "But on Tuesday, the only voices that matter will be those of Wisconsin voters". The fact is you have issues beyond reading comprehension. The reason you chimed in that with comments a person’s family was needed to help just adds to the tally of your trollish comments. Your behavior these past few months epitomizes what the voters in this state rejected, once again.
Jun 5, 2012 at 7:34 p.m.
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They’re Cutting Property Taxes In Wisconsin (April 16, 2012): Today Governor Walker announced that statewide property taxes for the typical homeowner have gone down for the first time in 12 years. The tax bill for the median value home is $39 per homeowner lower than originally estimated by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau when the 2011-2013 budget was passed.
Since 1998, property taxes paid by homeowners have risen 43 percent. This year property taxes paid by the typical homeowner went down 4 percent. Without the Governor’s reforms the average homeowner would have paid an additional $700 over the biennium.
When you try to do this, you get recalled. Not that Walker is likely to lose the recall. He’s going to win, and the unions will have spent a big pile of money on not a lot of success.
But states – who have to balance their budgets – that can cut taxes are states which are doing a lot better job of managing their money. Walker is an example of somebody who has a clue. He was willing to deal harshly with the unions and pay the price they’d exact on him politically in an effort to properly manage that money.
Walker needs to be held up as the standard. We should keep him in mind as we watch the Louisiana legislature’s efforts to resolve an $800 million (or larger) budget deficit or enact pension reform.
Jun 5, 2012 at 6:10 p.m.
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Keep prodding RAF everyone. Maybe we'll get him up to 10,000 before they haul Walker off in chains.
Jun 5, 2012 at 11:14 a.m.
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Save Wisconsin......Vote Barrett
Jun 5, 2012 at 10:37 a.m.
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And you think a narcissistic comment telling us you're on your way to the polls is adding something of any value or interest, RetiredAirForce?
Jun 5, 2012 at 10:31 a.m.
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RAF, Barrett talked about all of that in the debates.
You must have been asleep or taking a bathroom break.
Jun 5, 2012 at 10:18 a.m.
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Those voting for Barrett today should understand his plans, seeing he choose not to make it public.
http://watchdog.org/19424/barrett-calls-...
Jun 5, 2012 at 10:02 a.m.
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poo_koch again with nothing to add while you troll...
Jun 5, 2012 at 9:55 a.m.
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TCB, what? Who said he was a spokesman for the GOP? Tell Flury what you're telling me. Cheer up dude. Take some 'ludes, settle down.
Jun 5, 2012 at 9:06 a.m.
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youk,
Dave Flury is not a spokesman for the republican party is he? Just one persons opinion. The sky is falling on you isn't it?
Jun 5, 2012 at 8:48 a.m.
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What does TCB stand for? Tangled Curdled Brains? Did you read the article?
"Retired businessman Dave Flury plans to support Walker. "If Walker loses, shouldn't Republicans turn right around and recall Barrett?" Flury asked.
WHo is the "they" you are referring to? They is Republicans according to Flury. I also have no idea what else you're talking about. Are you from some other universe?
Jun 5, 2012 at 8:19 a.m.
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Vote - or give up your right to complain!
Jun 5, 2012 at 8:09 a.m.
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youk,
WHo is the "they" you are referring to? Why would a gov barrett be recalled? Oh yeah-maybe if he actually campaigned on a specific plan of action-then voters could ask-did Barrett actually accomplish what he promised he would-if so, then recall him! What a silly reason to recall someone, wouldn't you agree?
Relax, enjoy the day-life will go on even after Walker is re-elected.
Jun 5, 2012 at 7:46 a.m.
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They're already talking about recalling Barrett.
Losers even if they win.
Jun 5, 2012 at 7:45 a.m.
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Well I'm happy your family is assisting you to the polls, RetiredAirForce. Their votes for Barrett will more than offset your vote for Walker.
Jun 5, 2012 at 7:29 a.m.
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On my way to the polls, so is the rest of my family.
Jun 5, 2012 at 7:03 a.m.
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I could've been #1 at my voting place. No one in line at 4 am. I was surprised at that. But it will have to wait till after work.
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