Walker surprised with GOP turnout in Wis. primary
Photo
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker addresses a manufacturing association in Milwaukee on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, a day after Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett won a Democratic primary for the right to challenge the Republican governor in a recall election on June 5.
MADISON — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Wednesday he was surprised and encouraged by the high number of Republicans who voted for him against token opposition in a recall primary, and he expressed confidence that would translate well into the general election one month away.
Most of the focus in Tuesday’s primary was on the Democratic side, where Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett beat his nearest rival by 24 points to take on Walker in a rematch of the 2010 governor’s race.
While more Democrats voted for one of their candidates than did Republicans — 670,278 compared with 646,458 — it’s highly unusual for an incumbent facing only token opposition to get that many votes in a primary.
Walker’s total of 626,538 votes nearly equaled all of what the Democrats got, and it was more than what Barrett and his chief opponent Kathleen Falk received combined. Walker said on WTMJ-AM in Milwaukee that it was a good sign for him given that there was no coordinated get-out-the-vote effort for the primary.
“We went out and were campaigning, but we didn’t have an organized, sustained get-out-the-vote effort for this,” Walker said. “Obviously we do for June 5th.”
Democrats dismissed any concerns about Walker’s high numbers in the primary, saying their voters remain highly motivated for the June 5 recall, which will be only the third time in U.S. history a governor has faced such an election.
Barrett said it’s no surprise the GOP turnout was high given that Walker has been blanketing the airwaves with television ads.
“They worked as hard as they could to get a general election-type turnout,” Barrett said outside his home Wednesday with his former Democratic rivals by his side in a show of unity.
A Marquette University poll released last week showed the contest between Barrett and Walker to be a dead heat. It is clear voters on both sides are highly motivated. The 30 percent turnout was the highest for a primary in Wisconsin since 1952.
Republican state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, co-leader of the Senate who also faces a recall election, said he didn’t think Walker’s numbers foretold how the general election will go.
“I don’t take away anything from it,” Fitzgerald said.
The Wisconsin Republican Party said Wednesday that it had already made more than 2 million voter contact calls since January, which is more than was made during the entire 2010 election cycle.
Democrats announced a series of get-out-the-vote activities across the state on Wednesday, including phone banks with Barrett and lieutenant governor candidate Mahlon Mitchell.
Enthusiasm on the Democratic side has not waned, said Kelly Steele, spokesman for a union-backed coalition called We Are Wisconsin. Any voters who stayed home during the primary will not sit idly by when Walker’s fate is at hand, he said.
“Scott Walker’s field operations cannot match on-the-ground enthusiasm to recall him,” Steele said in a memo sent to supporters Wednesday. “As much as Walker and his operatives hype GOP primary turnout and downplay the impact of the nearly 1.8 million signatures filed in January, the reality is the ground game to defeat him is the culmination of a 15th month movement.”
The recall was spurred by anger over Walker’s proposal passed last year that effectively ended collective bargaining for most state workers and forced them to pay more for pension and health care benefits. Walker said it was needed to help balance a $3.6 billion budget shortfall, while opponents said the true goal was to cripple the powerful unions that typically support Democrats.
Wisconsin has been embroiled in political chaos for more than a year, with a previous round of nine recall elections last year targeted six Republican and three Democratic state senators. Two Republicans lost, leaving them with a narrow one-vote majority in the Senate.
This year, four more Republican senators were targeted for recall and one chose to resign rather than face election. The Senate is now split 16-16 and Democrats need to win only one race to gain control, which could be short-lived given the regular round of elections in November in which 16 senators are up.
The gubernatorial recall promises to be a wild four weeks full of attack ads from all sides.
Walker goes into it with a significant financial advantage, although he said Wednesday he expects “a dump truck load of cash come in from out of state and try to attack us.”
Walker tapped his national prominence to raise $25 million so far, most of it from out of state, shattering fundraising records he set during the 2010 race. He raised much of that money thanks to a quirk in Wisconsin law that allows officials targeted for recall to accept unlimited campaign donations for a time. For Walker, that window lasted nearly five months.
Walker had $4.9 million in the bank as of April 23, compared with Barrett’s $475,500. Barrett raised $831,500 this year so far.
The Republican Governors Association launched a new ad on Wednesday that showed a picture of Barrett next to former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle. During the 2010 race Republicans and Walker frequently linked Barrett to Doyle, who served two terms but left with low approval ratings.
“He will continue to amass huge amounts of money,” Barrett “But at the end of the day we will have a ground game that will match that.”
Associated Press writer Dinesh Ramde contributed to this report from Milwaukee.
May 16, 2012 at 2 p.m.
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Walker, Walker, Walker, Walker!!!
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MOVING THE GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN "FORWARD"
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FINALLY; FORWARD ------->
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May 12, 2012 at 7:33 a.m.
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What future? They won't have one after all the unrealistic expectations are met because the deficit will literally collapse the economy on top of them! But hey you keep thinking unions aren't sucking the life out of everything! That or you just don't care like most union folk. Gotta keep feeding the pig oink oink oink!!
May 10, 2012 at 7:06 p.m.
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Vote for Scott Walker? Sorry. I like to have reprsentation at work. You people can go backward if you want but as for us union people, we will continue to fight for your childrens rights to benefits.
May 10, 2012 at 3:17 p.m.
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I new Rasmussen poll just released today has Walker up by 5% with only just 2% undecided. 3% margin of error.
Sounds just like 2010. Point is, the unions and special interest groups have thrown everything at him in 15 months and he is still on top.
Vote for Scott Walker.
May 10, 2012 at 12:20 a.m.
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Anyone that needs to post under different names in thier febble attempt to post the same tired and often wrong rhetoric is not one any person should respond to.
May 9, 2012 at 11:37 p.m.
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""Bad day for Obama, unions in NC, WV, and especially WI""
An opinion for sure but far from a fact.
"". His kind of leadership is needed in Wisconsin and other states are already looking at following his kind of leadership and success.""
Really?? Which ones??
May 9, 2012 at 11:35 p.m.
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Lie:""
I understand you are happy for the total votes overall. But no one crossed over to vote for Walker as many Republicans had crossed over for Falk, Barrett or other.""
Really? Proof?
May 9, 2012 at 11:33 p.m.
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The left are the ones lying, right RAF? Such dishonesty in your posts!! I could go on about your dishonesty but like you said not nearly enough time.
May 9, 2012 at 11:31 p.m.
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Anyone who thinks Republicans were sitting on their hands yesterday, is just lying to themselves. This is going to be an INCREDIBLY close election. Darlene and the rest of the trolls can spin it whatever way they want, the facts are this election is FAR from decided either way. Anyone who suggests anything other than that is speculating based on emotion alone. Speculating wont win the election. Both sides are extremely energized and a higher turnout is what we should all want.
People like Darlene have doubted every step of this process from the get go, have been wrong. About the recall signatures, about the success of the movement, about everything. Are you all ready to keep making projections? Maybe for once you should try to make some valid points instead of protheletising.
May 9, 2012 at 11:28 p.m.
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I was going to start pointing out all the lies from the daily postings from the left in this blog, but I just don't have the time to call them all out.
May 9, 2012 at 10:24 p.m.
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In his picture he was actually saying, I used to be this tall, Then I got these new shoes, Now I'm this tall.
May 9, 2012 at 9:51 p.m.
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I'm going to start making funny vids again & bring my website back up. I use to do this over a decade ago & i'm getting a bunch of good ideas with this election stuff. I'll give address soon.. Need to update my creative suite.
May 9, 2012 at 9:33 p.m.
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lol that one has been around a while!
May 9, 2012 at 9:29 p.m.
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No need to make a flash video. Here's a animation that does it.
http://shiar.nl/misc/tv/simpsons/itchysc...
May 9, 2012 at 9:23 p.m.
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youkillme
"No need for the rest"
So...just read the last sentence.
Some articles do not show completely if people do not have an online subscription. No point in linking if they can't read the article.
Some (like Shopierehuh) seem to think I made the numbers up, hence the article/link.
May 9, 2012 at 9:16 p.m.
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Maybe ill make a flash video & upload on youtube.
May 9, 2012 at 9:14 p.m.
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Then after recall election if walker wins show him in front of capital on a tall ped wearing shorts and tee shirt flexing pipes. Then dems pelting him with rocks and chasing him!
May 9, 2012 at 9:09 p.m.
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They should make a movie about this recall. It could be a comedy showing the two sides beating the heck out of each other.
May 9, 2012 at 9:01 p.m.
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Sorry my cat won't shut up he wants to eat every hour the hog.
May 9, 2012 at 8:49 p.m.
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MEOW
May 9, 2012 at 8:35 p.m.
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In all honesty I wanted republican but didnt like it when he hacked into their rights. That was a bit much! You need to sit down and negotiate with people and meet them half way on some things. I think some forget those numbers are real people.
May 9, 2012 at 8:20 p.m.
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I think they should get an extra year or maybe six months would be a good poll question!
May 9, 2012 at 8:18 p.m.
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I have a question if Walker should win does he get extra time added on his term which he's lost from all this recount business?
May 9, 2012 at 8:09 p.m.
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Wislady, you only had to post the last sentence of your copy-n-paste. "There are no directly comparable elections in the state’s history to Tuesday’s gubernatorial recall primary." No need for the rest.
Any who, Republicans voters were scared out of there peanut-sized minds for Walker to lose to Kohl-Riggs. The only way to ensure his spot on the ballot was to come out in droves and that they did. Massive support by some accounts. Yet more voters chose to cast there vote for a Democrat. Obviously then, according to Tea Party logic, the democrats lost.
May 9, 2012 at 8:09 p.m.
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We enjoy helping others regardless of their political views. I'm sure you're all deep down good people.
May 9, 2012 at 8:06 p.m.
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"Scott Walker's vote total highest in a primary for governor in 60 years"-wislady@7:50pm
I know this "higher math" will confuse you, but those numbers are meaningless. The population of Wisconsin was 3.5 million in 1952, it is 5.5 million in 2012. To simplify it for you, there are a lot more voters than there were in 1952, therefore one will get more votes. There are 63% more people in 2012 than in 1952, yet he didn't even do as well as the 1952 results. Compared to 1952, he did very poorly.
May 9, 2012 at 8:05 p.m.
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Nope i'm stuck here standing by my wifes side being best husband i can so she can be best doctor she can to all you. We like Wisconsin esp today its gorgeous.
May 9, 2012 at 7:50 p.m.
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Scott Walker's vote total highest in a primary for governor in 60 years
"It has been 60 years since a candidate for governor got as many votes in a Wisconsin primary as Republican Scott Walker did Tuesday.
And it’s been 60 years since turnout in a gubernatorial primary was as high as it was Tuesday.
Walker got 626,538 votes running in a GOP primary with only token opposition, according to preliminary returns.
In 1952, Gov. Walter Kohler got 699,082 votes running unopposed in a Republican primary. (He would defeat future Sen. Bill Proxmire in the general election that year).
Kohler’s vote total represented 31% of the state’s voting-age population at the time. Walker’s vote Tuesday represents 14.4% of the state’s 2011 voting-age population.
Wisconsin’s overall turnout Tuesday was 1,316,736, or 30.3% of the state’s 2011 voting-age population, very close to what state officials forecast last week. That’s more than any September primary in six decades, though many presidential primaries have generated higher turnouts, including 2008.
There are no directly comparable elections in the state’s history to Tuesday’s gubernatorial recall primary."
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/15080...
May 9, 2012 at 7:39 p.m.
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Also I've never directly attacked anyone in these forums I respect all your opinions right left or whatever. This is america and you're suppose to have that right I think only civil for each of us to respect one another regardless of our views. If we should get invaded next week or something serious happens each of you will need eachother more than you know.
May 9, 2012 at 7:26 p.m.
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i just want to be happy and I don't see how you get there by making bills super high. Money was intended to flow in more places then union workers pockets. Oh and wisconsin has a lot of resources in its ground as well untouched.
May 9, 2012 at 5:09 p.m.
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Typical repub spin. He's disappointed he didn't get more votes than the dems, but has to say to the media he's happy and surprised. After his best effort, he still came up short.
May 9, 2012 at 4:53 p.m.
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justsomeguy, I don't hear the same thing you do. I look at facts and numbers and see the wealth gap widening, wages for workers flattening, pensions raided and more legislation against workers in Congress. Having tatoos, big screen TVs and running water are not signs of prosperity as you seem so many have not earned or deserve.
May 9, 2012 at 4:49 p.m.
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I'll bet Walker was surprised with the republican turnout. Every republican group in the state was pushing their members to get out and vote and give a big "show of support" for Walker. Only 626,538 votes. Not much support there.
May 9, 2012 at 4:44 p.m.
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Bawlgal, you have no evidence of crossover numbers for the democratic candidates. None. Zero. So why even bother to bring it up except to spin your own yarn. But if there was no way Walker could have lost the office yesterday, why did so many come out to vote for him? It was the fear of losing and nothing brings out a support base more than fear. Democrats came out to vote for their candidate without fear. Nothing to lose or gain.
The only crossover "spin" one could draw sensibly from the race is the votes for Huber and Kohl-Riggs. If you add Kohl-Riggs to the Democratic side and Huber to the GOP side as crossovers, the gap becomes even greater in favor of Democrats - 685,366 to 631,020. I used to think like you when I was a teenager and try to spin stuff in my own favor even with tremendous odds against. It's only natural, that's why I say keep the faith.
May 9, 2012 at 4:43 p.m.
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The excerpt below taken from this very article:
You are purposely putting out misleading information.
"While more Democrats voted for one of their candidates than did Republicans — 670,278 compared with 646,458".
Walker did not get more votes than the Democratic candidates.
May 9, 2012 at 4:41 p.m.
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youkillme, the average American will earn over $2 million in their lifetime. Yet I hear all these people complaining about how low their wages are while they buy their kid every $60 video game they want, buy $6 cartons of smokes, every electronic gadget in the world, big screen TVs in every room, tattoes all over their body. Where does that money come from?
May 9, 2012 at 4:13 p.m.
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justsomeguy - Oh, the "America, love it or leave it" thing....when are you leaving?
May 9, 2012 at 4:12 p.m.
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Youkillme, I respect your spin but disagree whole heartedly. Republicans had nothing to lose and there was no way on God's green earth Walker was going to lose to Arthur Riggs as 97% shows I'm correct in that statement. However, Democrats needed to turn out to pick the best candidate to run against Gov Walker.
I used to think your way. I understand you are happy for the total votes overall. But no one crossed over to vote for Walker as many Republicans had crossed over for Falk, Barrett or other.
May 9, 2012 at 4:04 p.m.
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Alertcitizen, That must be the word of the day as Gov. Walker has stolen the show from Barrett. Or at least the headlines.
The other headline, is the unions and their recall objective was sent packing.
May 9, 2012 at 4 p.m.
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Not bad after spending only $21 million
May 9, 2012 at 3:59 p.m.
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Hee, hee, hee, bowlgal. Democrats and their support base had nothing to lose and no office to gain yesterday. Walker however had everything to lose and his support base knew it. Had he lost yesterday after outspending the opposition 20 to 1, Walker's name would not be on the ballot in june. They came out in droves some described as "massive" but the democrats still won more voters. Keep the faith.
May 9, 2012 at 3:55 p.m.
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Bowlgal- You and kaysbrew are both "energized"-she posted that earlier. Keep dreamin'.
May 9, 2012 at 3:45 p.m.
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Oh my gosh! Walker was just 34000 votes short of all the Democrats in a highly contested Democrat race. This doesn't even take into consideration the crossover for Falk. I will bet it is all of 35000 looking at the Weix totals..
I am Very energized now by this news.
May 9, 2012 at 3:29 p.m.
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Why move to China when we have anti-union single-party rule, race to the bottom wages and a dictator right here in Fitzwalkerstan? Practically identical.
May 9, 2012 at 3:24 p.m.
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fordfan, I'd like to see libs live in the world they describe. Move to China.
May 9, 2012 at 3:21 p.m.
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My only fear is all this un necessary fighting between two parties is further destroying wisconsin's chances to fix money troubles as well as attract outside opportunity. Outsiders might view wisconsin as a state if not already which only wants to be confrontational more so then hard working, smart or civil.
May 9, 2012 at 3:18 p.m.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcZfjIS9H...
May 9, 2012 at 3:08 p.m.
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Even Michelle Bachmann thinks this is going to far right - joining up with the Swiss for that good ole Swiss government healthcare;
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics...
May 9, 2012 at 3:06 p.m.
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I would love to see the right-wingers live in the world they describe. No taxes, no public education, no laws except the at the point of a gun, medical care only for those who can afford it and on and on. You all are a bunch of loonie-tunes......
Oh - and also Joe McCarthyism where everyone that does not agree with good ole Joe is a Communist.
May 9, 2012 at 2:55 p.m.
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physicsM2
May 9, 2012 at 2:35 p.m.
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Now if we could only make Wisconsin an income tax free state like texas than I believe we're on right track. I also saw a report on yahoo about job creation and three texas cities are in top five (Austin, Houston & Dallas Fort Worth/Arlington area).
link:
http://m.yahoo.com/w/ygo-frontpage/lp/st...
Also saw this report on best education high schools & dallas has two in top five. I seem to recall a while back on here someone making fun of education in texas but statistics & test scores from some reports are suggesting the opposite. I don't recall who said it but person was obviously liberal and trying to make a connection between raising property and income taxes which in return would better improve public education. States like texas have no state income tax and yet i'm witnessing high marks in their education. Perhaps both philosophies can eventually produce results and we're not yet seeing ours!?
http://m.yahoo.com/w/ygo-frontpage/lp/st...
May 9, 2012 at 2:55 p.m.
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@che- The actual numbers say something else. Perhaps you should email the publications you cited and tell them.
Democratic Governors race- @ $670k (all democrats combined)
Republican Governors race- @ $647k ( All republicans)
May 9, 2012 at 2:39 p.m.
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I hope the voters in Wisconsin realize the importance of staying with Walker. His kind of leadership is needed in Wisconsin and other states are already looking at following his kind of leadership and success.
May 9, 2012 at 2:22 p.m.
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Scott Walker is charging though the field thought to be filled with land mines with democrats following behind, seeing if he gets his legs blown off.
Rahm Emanuel: Pension reform needed now:
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x1809310900...
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