• WisPolitics


Thursday, May 17, 2012

 5:20 PM 

Dem polling memo: Barrett in good position against Walker

Dems today circulated a polling memo from Tom Barrett’s campaign that argues the Milwaukee mayor is in a good position against Gov. Scott Walker in spite of polls this week showing the incumbent with a narrow lead. The memo, which WisPolitics.com obtained from a Dem operative, touts campaign polling numbers that the document argues show momentum for Barrett. But it does not include any head-to-head results with Walker. The memo, prepared by the Gain Hart Yang Research Group, says that Barrett’s polling from Monday and Tuesday “shows the Barrett campaign has stabilized and the gubernatorial match-up has tightened considerably.” It argues Barrett has cut Walker’s lead by more than half in the Milwaukee media market, the largest in the state, and Walker’s job rating there dropped 8 percent from the weekend. The memo also argues the race will be won or lost on the ground and there is “no doubt that the Democratic base is organized and energized.” The campaign is aggressively targeting 400,000 people who voted in the 2008 presidential race, but didn’t turn out in 2010. It says Barrett leads 57 percent to 37 percent with those voters. “If the Barrett campaign and its allies can turnout just a fraction of these ‘drop off’ voters on June 5th, then Wisconsinites will finish the job they started last year and defeat Scott Walker,” the memo concludes. -- By JR Ross

Posted @ 5:20 PM | Permalink

 4:30 PM 

'Divide and conquer' filmmaker offers sneak peek from his full movie


Brad Lichtenstein, the filmmaker who last week released video of Gov. Scott Walker's "divide and conquer" comment, says he had an inkling of what was to come when "people in labor circles" became interested in what he had shot.

He said he screened it at a labor historian conference and at college campuses such as UW-Whitewater and Beloit College before a reporter contacted him about the video.

On Wednesday night, Lichtenstein screened extended clips from his new film "As Goes Janesville" to a packed theater in Milwaukee.

The film follows the stories of three laid off General Motors employees and Sen. Tim Cullen, including the Janesville Dem's stay in Illinois last year as Democrats tried to put off a vote on Walker's collective bargaining changes.

Audience member Ron Taylor, an independent filmmaker, expressed concern over a lack of union voice in the clips. Taylor said he wished Lichtenstein would have spent more time on General Motors and shown less of Walker.

Lichtenstein replied that the film does include instances of the unions coming to the aid of the three former GM employees. Lichtenstein also added he wanted the film to be accessible to people from various political backgrounds.

Although Lichtenstein describes himself as a "small d democrat," he reiterated to his audience his goal to remain nonpartisan. According to the Government Accountability Board's database, he donated $100 to Tom Barrett's 2010 guv campaign.

Lichtenstein said his professional goal of "getting people involved with serious issues like labor and economic justice" came from his time working for Congressman John Lewis, a veteran of the civil rights movement.

A high school guidance counselor who saw that Lichtenstein was miserable in a private, conservative high school environment introduced him to Lewis' campaign staff.

At 15, Lichtenstein met the man he claims had more impact on his life than anyone else.

During Lewis' congressional campaign, Lichtenstein would follow Lewis around to "24-hour grocery stores, laundromats ... and John would tell stories about the civil rights movement."

Lichtenstein and Lewis are currently working together to make a film about race in America. Lichtenstein said the Trayvon Martin case and Milwaukee instances of racial profiling may all be included in the film.

-- By Maggie Schleicher
For WisPolitics.com

Labels:

Posted @ 4:30 PM | Permalink

 11:23 AM 

WMC starts new TV ad touting revised job figures

WMC is running a new ad that it’s calling a “Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Fact Check” and touts new figures that show the state has gained 30,000 jobs since January 2011.

The narrator in the spot says, “Some politicians claim” and then the spot cuts to video of Tom Barrett saying, “This state lost jobs.”

“Wrong,” the narrator answers before saying the corrected numbers show large job gains since the passage of Scott Walker’s reforms.

“Thanks to Scott Walker, Wisconsin gained jobs last year and is gaining more in 2012,” the narrator says to close the spot. “Let’s keep growing jobs.”

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 11:23 AM | Permalink

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

 2:16 PM 

Walker already up with TV ad touting new job numbers

Gov. Scott Walker is already up with a TV ad touting new job figures his administration released this morning showing Wisconsin gained jobs during his first year in office.

In the spot, Walker says he has some bad news for Tom Barrett, “but good news for Wisconsin.”

Walker says “the government” just released new job numbers that show Wisconsin gained more than 20,000 jobs in his first term. Walker’s administration this morning put out figures it gathered from state employers that are being sent to the federal government for review.

Walker says once jobs created this year are added it, it’s more than 30,000 new jobs since he took office.

“Mayor Barrett, he said this election is about jobs. I couldn’t agree more,” Walker says. “Our reforms are working, and we’re moving Wisconsin forward.”

Dems planned a conference call this afternoon to question the timing of the ad. Walker said the Department of Workforce Development, which released the figures, had not shared them with him ahead of their release. Dems are questioning how the guv got a TV ad up by the noon news shows if that's true.

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 2:16 PM | Permalink

 12:58 PM 

Marquette poll: Walker 50, Barrett 44

The latest poll from the Marquette University Law School has Gov. Scott Walker leading Tom Barrett 50 percent to 44 percent among likely voters.

At the end of April, the school's polling had the race about even with 48 percent backing Walker and 47 percent for Barrett.

In the lt. guv's race, incumbent Rebecca Kleefisch was up on Dem Mahlon Mitchell 47-41.

Walker's job approval rating was 50 percent, while 46 percent disapproved. In April, Walker was upside down at 47-51.

The poll also had the presidential race even at 46 percent for Barack Obama and 46 percent for Mitt Romney.

The poll surveyed 704 registered voters by landline and cell phone May 9-12. The sample included 600 likely voters, and the margin of error for that subset was plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 12:58 PM | Permalink

 10:48 AM 

New Barrett TV ad calls Walker a 'rock star'

Tom Barrett’s campaign has started running a new TV ad today that charges Gov. Scott Walker is “all about Scott Walker.”

The spot opens with a guitar playing as the narrator says “Scott Walker. He thinks he’s a rock star” and then follows with video of Walker saying “rock star.”

The narrator says Walker has been traveling week after week across the country, cuts in with Walker saying “rock star” and then calls him a Tea Party super star “who’s raised tens of millions of dollars from out of state right-wing donors” and while he’s played gigs in Phoenix, Texas and “everywhere,” Wisconsin lost more jobs than any other state.

The screen shows cities scrolling by for the “Scott Walker Divide & Conquer Tour” and the spot then shows Walker thanking a crowd to which he addressed and saying “It’s been a great night.”

“He’s all about Scot Walker and not looking out for us,” the narrator says to close the ad.

The ad was captured for WisPolitics.com by CMAG, which tracks political ads that run on broadcast TV. It first ran Tuesday night in the Milwaukee market, according to the tracking.

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 10:48 AM | Permalink

 10:06 AM 

RGA unveils new TV ad linking Barrett, Doyle

The Republican Governors Association unveiled a new TV ad today that compares Tom Barrett to Jim Doyle.

The spot opens with the narrator asking viewers if they would go back to 2010 and Doyle’s administration if they had a time machine.

“I didn’t think so,” the narrator says, adding unemployment went up 37 percent under Doyle and taxes increased $1.6 billion.

“That’s exactly what would happen if one made Tom Barrett governor,” the narrator adds.

The spot then says Barrett raised taxes in Milwaukee every year but one, unemployment was up 28 percent and government spending increased $300 million.

“Tom Barrett, he’d take Wisconsin back,” the spot concludes.

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 10:06 AM | Permalink

 9:20 AM 

Abele muses about running for mayor

In chats with his friends, Milwaukee County Exec Chris Abele has raised the possibility of running for mayor of Milwaukee and retaining his seat as Milwaukee Co exec – if Mayor Tom Barrett defeats Gov. Scott Walker in next month’s recall election.

Abele's office says he’s “not actively considering it but not ruling it out."

Adam Stephens, the assistant city attorney for Milwaukee that deals with elections issues, says he’s not been asked to formulate an opinion on the matter and a cursory check of statutes and legal opinions give no definitive answer.

“Nothing in the statute jumps out at me saying he couldn’t do it,” said Stephens. “But the first thing that came to mind for me is ‘compatibility of office.’”

In other words, would holding one office present a conflict of office when holding the other office simultaneously?

When state Rep. David Cullen recently ran for Milwaukee County supervisor and won, he said he intended to hold both offices. State Sen. Spencer Coggs recently won his bid for Milwaukee city treasurer and said he would hold both offices until the end of his Senate term. They saw no conflict in holding both.

The League of Wisconsin Municipalities has issued a legal opinion that someone could serve as an alderman and a county supervisor.

“But this would be an interesting dynamic,” Stephens said.

Abele’s motives, according to one friend, are pure. He sees it as a way to reduce redundancies and save money. He has made efforts to do that during his first year in office.

But another pointed out that he declined to veto a resolution of the County Board that reduced the number of county supervisors from 17 to 16, despite calls for more radical cuts.

-- By Marie Rohde
For WisPolitics.com

WisPolitics Platinum subscribers can see more on a potential Milwaukee mayoral election in last week's WED PM Update: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=269438

Posted @ 9:20 AM | Permalink

 9:13 AM 

PPP poll shows Walker 4 points ahead of Barrett

A new Public Policy Polling poll released today shows Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett trailing Gov. Scott Walker by four percentage points.

The survey of 851 registered voters done this past weekend shows Walker beating Barrett, 49 to 45. Two percent said they'd vote for independent candidate Hari Trivedi, while three percent were undecided. Democratic lt. gubernatorial candidate Mahlon Mitchell also trails current Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, 46 percent to 43. The poll had a 3.4 percent margin of error.

Of those polled, 49 percent approved of Walker's job performance, while 47 percent disapproved. Only 43 percent had a favorable opinion of Tom Barrett, compared to 46 percent who had an unfavorable opinion.

The poll also showed each of the Republican candidates for U.S. Senate besting Rep. Tammy Baldwin in a general election.

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson led Baldwin 47 percent to 42, former Congressman Mark Neumann led her 46 percent to 42 and hedge fund manager Eric Hovde led her 45 to 41. Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald was not included in the poll questions.

The poll also had President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney in a near dead heat, with Obama leading Romney only slightly, 47 percent to 46 percent.

See the full poll

Labels:

Posted @ 9:13 AM | Permalink

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

 2:19 PM 

Greater Wisconsin Committee launches ad against Sen. Wanggaard

The Greater Wisconsin Committee has put a new television ad out attacking Sen. Van Wanggaard for supporting tax breaks for corporations while cutting school funding.

The 30-second television ad starts out with a narrator saying "Van Wanggaard has a big problem," as the word big drops next to an animated version of the Racine senator.

"You see Sen. Wanggaard spends a lot of his time helping the big guys," the narrator says as the animated Wanggaard is positioned next to bankers and skyscrapers to illustrate their point. "Big corporations, big banks, big donors. Wanggard gives them big tax breaks while giving Wisconsin families the big brush off."

The ad then highlights the $1.6 billion cut to education with an animation of a crack running through a school building. The narrator says students get bigger class sizes as fewer quality teachers a result, while "Wanggaard's buddies" get billions in tax breaks.

"On June 5, its time to give Van Wanggaard the big heave-ho," the narrator ends, as the animated Wanggaard is yanked off screen by a cane.


-- By Jason Smathers

Labels:

Posted @ 2:19 PM | Permalink

 1:27 PM 

Dates to watch ahead of June 5 election

With three weeks to go until an unprecedented statewide recall election, campaign season is ramping up dramatically -- starting tomorrow with a debate in the Eau Claire-area 23rd Senate District.

Here's a look at some critical dates ahead of the June 5 election:

*May 16: Sen. Terry Moulton, R-Chippewa Falls, and former Rep. Kristen Dexter, D-Eau Claire, will participate in a candidate forum hosted by the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce.

*May 17: The April state jobs report -- the final monthly numbers released before the recall election -- is due from the Department of Workforce Development.

*May 21: End of the pre-election campaign finance reporting period.

*May 23: State Reps. Donna Seidel, D-Wausau, and Jerry Petrowski, R-Marathon, are set to debate at UW-Marathon County in Wausau ahead of their showdown in the 29th SD.

*May 25: Gov. Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett participate in a debate sponsored by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association.

*May 29: Pre-election campaign finance reports are due for recall campaigns. The report covers financial activity between April 24 and May 21.

*May 31: Applications for absentee ballots must be received by local election officials by 5 p.m.

*May 31: Sen. Moulton and former Rep. Dexter have agreed to a tentative second debate on Wisconsin Public Radio in Eau Claire.

*May 31: WISN-TV and its network affiliates, Marquette Law School and WisPolitics.com host the second gubernatorial debate.

*June 1: Deadline for in-person absentee voting.

*June 5: General recall election for governor, lt. governor and four state Senate districts.

Did we miss any? Send a note to info@wispolitics.com if you have any dates to add

Labels:

Posted @ 1:27 PM | Permalink

Monday, May 14, 2012

 11:27 AM 

Poll: Walker 52, Barrett 43

A new poll from a subsidiary of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association has Scott Walker up on Tom Barrett 52 percent to 43 percent in the guv's race.

The poll found 5 percent of likely voters surveyed were undecided.

The automated survey of 1,219 likely voters was conducted Sunday and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.81 percentage points.

A blog post at the website of We Ask America says the guv led among self-described independents 47.6 percent to 44.6 percent and "the underlying numbers seem fluid." But the post provides no cross tabs on the results or other figures from the survey other than 95 percent of those called said they planned to vote in the June 5 election.

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 11:27 AM | Permalink

Friday, May 11, 2012

 1:56 PM 

Rasmussen poll: Thompson leads Baldwin in Senate race; other matchups close

A new poll from Rasmussen Reports shows former Gov. Tommy Thompson leading U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin in a hypothetical U.S. Senate matchup, while contests between Baldwin and two other GOP candidates were within the margin of error.

Respondents favored Thompson 50-38 over Baldwin, D-Madison, with 5 percent supporting another candidate and 7 percent undecided.

Baldwin trailed former GOP U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann 44-42, according to the same poll, but led Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, 45-41. Both those questions showed 4 percent supporting another candidate and 9 percent undecided.

The poll included 500 likely voters surveyed May 9 by an automated telephone system. The margin of error was plus-or-minus 4.5 percentage points.

The survey did not include Madison businessman Eric Hovde, who announced his bid for the GOP nomination in March and has been up on TV since early April. The poll also did not seek a preference in the upcoming primary between the GOP candidates.

Rasmussen also released the results of polling in the presidential race in Wisconsin, showing Barack Obama leading Mitt Romney 49-45. That survey also included 500 likely voters on May 9, and had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 4.5 percentage points.

Dems generally dismiss Rasmussen polling as favoring Republicans.

-- By Andy Szal

Posted @ 1:56 PM | Permalink

Thursday, May 10, 2012

 3:30 PM 

New Barrett TV ad says time to close book on Walker

Tom Barrett’s latest TV ad details a new “book” by Scott Walker entitled “How to Rip Apart Wisconsin.”

During the spot, the book flips through “chapters” such as “Say no to equal pay for women” and “Largest cut to education in state history.” The narrator reads the titles of the chapters, including ones on raising taxes for seniors, losing more jobs than any other state and giving billions in tax breaks to corporations and the super rich.

“It’s time to close the book because we can’t fix Wisconsin if we keep Scott Walker,” the spot concludes.

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 3:30 PM | Permalink

 2:35 PM 

Ending Spending PAC starts TV ad saying 'courage' on the ballot

The Ending Spending Action Fund Wisconsin has started a new TV ad praising Gov. Scott Walker that says “courage is on the ballot.”

The narrator opens the spot by asking what people are really voting on and saying it’s not about one person or set of policies, but courage and, “Walker did what he was elected to do.”

The narrator goes on that Walker made the tough decisions to fix the budget, get the economy moving and put taxpayers back in charge.

“Today Wisconsin is adding jobs, and our budget is balanced,” the narrator says to close the spot. “It wasn’t easy or always popular. But Scott Walker had the courage to keep his word and move Wisconsin forward.”

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 2:35 PM | Permalink

 12:29 PM 

JFC co-chairs want Barrett to say how he'd balance budget, Dem says it's a 'stunt'

The GOP co-chairs of the state's budget committee today demanded Dem guv candidate Tom Barrett provide details of how he'd balance the budget while funding public schools and providing medical care for the poor.

Barrett's campaign fired back it was an attempt to deflect blame from his "destructive budget" and did not offer any details to answer the questions of Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, and Robin Vos, R-Rochester.

The Walker campaign released the letter from the lawmakers in which they wrote if Barrett didn't have a comprehensive fiscal plan, he should answer three questions: Would he raise taxes or cut programs -- or both -- to solve the $3.6 billion deficit the state had at the start of this budget? Would he have added $1.2 billion in GPR to the Medicaid program like Republicans did? And how would he fund K-12 education?

"This next election is about more than rhetoric; it’s about the fiscal future of Wisconsin," the pair wrote, adding the questions should be "answered honestly with great detail."

Barrett spokesman Phil Walzak called the letter a "transparent stunt."

"Scott Walker can try to deflect blame all he wants for his destructive budget, but at the end of the day, he must be accountable for his policies," Walzak said. "Scott Walker chose to balance the budget by raising taxes on seniors, making the deepest cuts in education in state history, and raising fees by $105 million for the cost of college. And Governor Walker did all of this while giving billions of dollars in tax give-aways to corporations and the super rich. With less than a month away until we have a referendum on his leadership, it's no wonder Scott Walker is trying to play the deflection game with the people of Wisconsin."

-- By Staff


Labels:

Posted @ 12:29 PM | Permalink

 10:57 AM 

Rasmussen: Walker 50, Barrett 45

A new poll out today from Rasmussen Reports puts Scott Walker up on Tom Barrett 50 percent to 45 percent.

The survey, conducted yesterday, found 2 percent preferred another candidate.

The automated phone survey of 500 likely voters had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.

Dems generally dismiss Rasmussen surveys as biased toward Republicans.

The survey also asked about favorable ratings for Walker and Barrett, the economy and unions for public employees. But those results were only available to subscribers.

 -- By Staff

Labels:

Posted @ 10:57 AM | Permalink

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

 5:04 PM 

Recall primary stock report

Rising

Tom Barrett: The Milwaukee mayor will get the rematch with Scott Walker that he wanted, as observers agree he's showing more fire and passion in the second go-round. Barrett rolls to a 24-point win in the primary, beating public employee unions and their fave Kathleen Falk. He emerges from the race without a nasty fight and with an aura of independence just as liberal groups roll in with ads. He immediately turns his attention to Walker, charging the incumbent took his "eye off the ball" of job creation to jet-set around the country raising money. Expect more of the same in the coming weeks, Dems say, as Barrett tries to paint Walker as more a star in love with his national reputation than concerned about putting Wisconsinites back to work. Dems say they're seeing more passion out of Barrett already than what he showed in the 2010 race he lost to Walker by more than 124,000 votes, and insiders are impressed with the size of his win, his winning message ("end the civil war") and his campaign's agility and acumen (the clean campaign pledge and good use of surrogates such as Dave Obey and Herb Kohl). While he was the favorite heading into Tuesday, few expected such a blowout. To some, it's a sign that primary voters decided Barrett was the more electable candidate and wanted to go with a perceived winner. Still, Walker has a financial advantage and the backing of outside groups intent on sending a message for the conservative cause -- things that could overwhelm Barrett unless Dems quickly marshal adequate firepower and third-party support. Some downplay the role of money in this race, saying Walker's already spent $20 million only to be locked in a neck-and-neck race with the mayor.

Scott Walker: No one is surprised the GOP base loves the guv. Still, Republicans are giddy because of the more than 626,000 votes Walker pulls in a primary with only token opposition. That vote total alone is just behind the 665,000 who voted for the four legit Dem candidates in their primary, helping to boost the turnout to the highest in decades and spurring spin that the recall movement has lost its mojo. Insiders say both Barrett and Walker can lay claim to momentum coming out of the primary between the mayor's margin of victory and Walker's turnout. Walker backers brag they really hadn't done anything to prompt their supporters to get to the polls, though conservative talk radio did a good job promoting the vote for Walker instead of meaningless crossover mischief. In addition, the state GOP is touting the more than 2 million voter contacts it's made since January, and insiders say yesterday's primary was the first chance for Walker's backers to vote directly for him since the collective bargaining fight began last February. Just imagine what can happen when Walker lights up the state "like a Christmas tree" with his GOTV effort, one backer promises. Dems downplay the numbers, pointing out Walker has already spent some $20 million in the election. He should have people coming out of the woodwork for him after laying out that kind of cash, they argue. Some Dems also see areas where they can really push turnout above what they saw yesterday. The GOP counter, though, is more than 900,000 people signed the recall petitions; why couldn't Dems turn them all out yesterday? To some, it's a matter of people whose motivation is more about opposing Walker than anything else; they're seen as waiting for the main event June 5. Walker now heads into this weekend's state GOP convention in the crucial swing area of Green Bay, where he'll undoubtedly get another rock star reception from the grassroots and a burst of free media. Finally, insiders don't expect Walker to give up the financial advantage he's had so far. And they claim the guv's actually in better position than some publicly released polls suggest, leading them to believe a top-notch turnout game will deliver victory even if he stays below the all-important 50 percent mark.

Turnout: Insiders thought going into Tuesday the GAB had once again overshot in its prediction for turnout. But the agency gets it right. About 30 percent of the state's voting age population turns out, right in the 30 percent to 35 percent range the GAB predicted. It's the best turnout for a statewide guv primary since 1952. What's more impressive to some is the turnout happened in a one-of-a-kind statewide May primary rather than the usual September slot (and soon to be August). To insiders, it's a continued sign of an engaged electorate. And some suggest turnout could even approach presidential levels on June 5 thanks to both sides pulling out all the stops to get their supporters to the polls.

Mixed

Mahlon Mitchell: Without any exit polling information, insiders will never know for sure how many GOP voters crossed over to vote in the guv primary for Kathleen Falk. But with 90,000 more votes cast in the Dem lt. guv primary than the guv primary, it's obvious some mischief voting was going on there, insiders say. That helps explain why Mitchell, the Madison-based head of the statewide fire fighters union, pulls just 52 percent of the vote in a race with little-known private investigator Ira Robins and "fake" or "protest" Dem candidate Isaac Weix, who was put on the ballot by the state GOP. Mitchell has the backing of the Dem establishment and many union interests, and he's an attractive addition to the ticket for Barrett, Dems say. He brings union credentials, he's young, he was a key figure in the Capitol protests and he's an African American bidding for statewide office -- sure to boost turnout in the city of Milwaukee, they explain. Barrett and Mitchell won't appear on the same line of the ballot, as they would in a normal fall election, and there's the possibility some voters may go Barrett-Rebecca Kleefisch or Walker-Mitchell. But insiders expect the lt. guv's race to follow the contest between Barrett and Walker, leaving Mitchell's fate largely in the hands of Barrett's campaign.

Falling

Kathleen Falk: The former Dane County exec went all-in on collective bargaining in her bid for the Dem guv nomination. But instead of riding a wave of union support -- and money -- to a shot at the guv’s office, Tom Barrett trounces her by 24 points statewide and by even more in her home county. Falk, who has now come up short three times in a bid for statewide office, loses the epicenter of the recall movement in a bad way. According to unofficial returns, Barrett took almost 62 percent of the vote in Dane County, compared to less than 31 percent for Falk. There’s something wrong when you’re losing 2-to-1 in the county where you served as exec for 14 years, insiders say, chalking it up to a series of factors -- from the perception that Barrett is simply more electable in a statewide race with Walker to lackluster favorability ratings for Falk and lingering resentment over her 2006 challenge of Peg Lautenschlager in the Dem AG primary. Falk’s pledge to veto the budget unless it included the restoration of collective bargaining powers also didn’t appear to go over well with voters. Rather than rallying union workers, insiders say, it turned off more middle-of-the-road types and proved a huge liability. Some felt Falk needed to go after Barrett hard in the primary if she wanted to win, but she avoided sharp attacks. Some give her kudos for avoiding tactics that could have damaged Barrett coming out of the primary, while others say the final results suggest it wouldn’t have helped even if she tried. Insiders largely wrote off Falk’s political future after she lost in the 2006 general election for attorney general and say this latest bid looks like the absolute last chapter in her political career. While elected office is likely out of the picture, some wonder whether she’d end up in a Barrett cabinet or the Obama administration. Republicans warn she’d be a top pick for the DNR as they try to rally business interests against Barrett.

Public employee unions: Gov. Scott Walker’s push to rein in the collective bargaining powers of public employees sparked the recall movement. Now, critical insiders say the public employees’ main cause is likely to be a sideshow for the final four weeks of the campaign, as their favored candidate loses badly despite spending millions of dollars. Insiders say it all adds up to egg on the faces of union leaders, who were harshly critical of Barrett in the early going and then tried their best to intimidate him from getting into the race. Now, observers see former Falk backers like AFSCME and WEAC doing their best to make nice with Barrett and show they'll be part of the final effort to get Walker. But insiders say Tuesday’s results help illustrate the limits of union power in Dem primaries. They still have the members and the resources to help drive turnout. But they can't simply anoint the Dem Party nominee, insiders say. Some Dems say the results allowed the party to re-establish itself as the Dem Party and not the union’s party, which will help in the general election. Republicans, meanwhile, do a victory dance and rub in the failure of organized labor to deliver a win for Falk. The question some now have is how hard the labor groups will work to elect Barrett, who they’ve openly feuded with at times over the past several years. To some, it’s a case of grin and bear it. They may not exactly love Barrett, they say, but the unions hate Walker. That alone will motivate them to get to the polls June 5. Insiders say the best they can hope for now is governor who isn’t quite a friend, but also isn’t the enemy.

Dave Worzala: The Dane County treasurer abruptly quits his bid for the 2nd CD on recall primary morning. But like much of Worzala’s campaign, the announcement gets little attention. The Dem was often overshadowed by fellow candidates Mark Pocan and Kelda Helen Roys as well as the recall elections, which made it difficult to become known. In some ways, the recalls could have helped Worzala’s campaign against two better-known opponents, some argue. By compressing the race into less than three months, he could have mounted an aggressive TV campaign and field program while hoping that Pocan and Roys beat the snot out of each other, allowing him to run up the middle to victory. Doing that would have required significant resources, and Worzala made that happen in the early going with big contributions from his own pocket. While there may have been a path for him, some say, it wouldn’t be an easy one. At least he got out of the race before he could be smoked and drain hundreds of thousands from his own bank account, insiders say. Some now see Pocan as the frontrunner for the seat, though other Dems have long complained the establishment has been too dismissive of Roys’ chances. The two have started trying to differentiate themselves, including some jabs over clean campaign pledges and PAC contributions that haven’t caught fire with the public but have been picked up by those watching the race.

Labels:

Posted @ 5:04 PM | Permalink

 3:19 PM 

Kleefisch campaign ad touts job creation record

A new ad from Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch claims she helped bring an Illinois company to Wisconsin.

The 30-second spot begins with Kleefisch in front of the camera, talking about a tech company from Illinois called "Fat Wallet" that was "fed up" with the creation of an online sales tax.

"So I called them up and told them why they should move to Wisconsin," Kleefisch says. "And they did."

The ad then switches to footage of Kleefisch with Gov. Scott Walker, with Kleefisch saying that her and Walker act on opportunities for jobs "immediately" once they see them.

Kleefisch then ends the ad with her family playing a board game while she delivers her pitch.

"Because we promise to make Wisconsin the best place to grow a business and raise a family," Kleefisch says.


-- By Jason Smathers

Labels:

Posted @ 3:19 PM | Permalink

 3:00 PM 

PPAWI ad says 'women can't wait' in recall

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin also announced a new ad today criticizing Walker's record on women's health care issues.

"Planned Parenthood is a lifeline for Wisconsin women and families, but Gov. Walker eliminated funding for Planned Parenthood's preventative services, including cancer screenings and birth control," an announcer says in the ad.

"Health care shouldn't be political. It's personal," the announcer continues as the ad fades to a screen urging supporters to vote for Barrett next month. "Women can't wait. It's time to stop Gov. Walker."

See the spot in AdWatch.

-- By Staff

Labels:

Posted @ 3:00 PM | Permalink

 2:55 PM 

Hovde's internal polling shows him in tight race with Thompson

New internal polling from Eric Hovde's U.S. Senate campaign shows the hedge fund manager trailing former Gov. Tommy Thompson by 3 percentage points.

The poll found Thompson leading the pack with 30 percent of those surveyed backing his bid for Senate, while 27 percent backed Hovde.

Former U.S. Congressman Mark Neumann was close behind with 23 percent and Fitzgerald lagging with 10 percent. There were 10 percent of those surveyed who remained undecided. The poll had a margin of error of 4 percent.

The poll also showed 53 percent of those surveyed had a favorable opinion of Hovde, while 5 percent had an unfavorable opinion. Thompson had a favorability rating of 67 percent, but an unfavorability rating of 21 percent.

Thompson's name recognition was 100 percent, while Hovde and Fitzgerald both had 71 percent name recognition. Neumann had recognition of 92 percent.

The poll was done by NorthStar Opinion Research, which conducted internal polling for the campaign of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida. The poll surveyed 600 likely Republican voters between May 6 and May 8.


-- By Jason Smathers

Labels:

Posted @ 2:55 PM | Permalink

 2:30 PM 

Dem primary candidates join forces behind Barrett

All three unsuccessful Dem primary candidates publicly threw their support behind Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in a joint appearance today outside Barrett's Milwaukee home.

Kathleen Falk, Kathleen Vinehout and Doug La Follette all said they'd actively campaign on Barrett's behalf over the next 27 days.

Barrett told reporters the recall election is uniting Dems against Gov. Scott Walker and said he's not worried about the high number of votes Walker received in last night's primary election.

"If we were divided, it would be a concern," said Barrett. "The fact that you have, essentially within 14 hours, all of the candidates standing together shows we are united."

"Clearly, the Republicans worked as hard as they could to get a general election-type of turnout," said Barrett, citing a barrage of TV ads that he likened to "30-second drive-by shootings."

Falk, who placed second in the primary and who had garnered extensive union support, said, "Last night, I called Tom to give him my full support and I have asked all my supporters to give the same energy and enthusiasm to Tom Barrett."

Falk added, "Tom Barrett will focus like a laser beam on the issues that matter most to all of us."

Vinehout said, "Now is the time, today is the hour. We are going to win in a very short time. It's all about votes, getting people to the polls and all of their relatives who didn't vote. We need to start today on getting people to vote."

La Follette said, "I've always been a very grassroots candidate, and those people whom I've met, who I know, we're going to call them."

Barrett said his campaign will differ from his earlier contest with Walker in 2010 because "people now have an understanding of Scott Walker's divide-and-conquer approach to government. He wants to divide people."

Barrett said the 2012 campaign will also differ because, "(Voters) are going to see me and they're going to see Kathleen, and they're going to see Kathleen and they're going to see Doug -- and they'll see other people around the state and we're going to talk about Scott Walker's record. Two years ago, he did not have a state record. Now that he has a state record, he does not want to talk about his record."

-- By Kay Nolan

WisPolitics Platinum subscribers will see more from the Dem unity event in today's PM Update.

Labels:

Posted @ 2:30 PM | Permalink

 1:29 PM 

Walker outlines state help for manufacturers in conference address

Speaking in Milwaukee today, Gov. Scott Walker told manufacturers he wants the state to help them control costs and partner with them.

Walker spoke at the Manufacturing Matters! conference put on by Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership. He said the state can help manufacturers control costs by reducing the tax burden, making common-sense environmental regulations, and preventing frivolous lawsuits.

“One of the things I was most proud of in the budget I signed into law was we included a manufacturing and agricultural based tax credit,”

Walker said as he travels the state he feels “almost like a traveling salesman” explaining how effective the tax credit can be.

He also said the DNR has become more effective. Walker said at a visit to an aluminum plant in Manitowoc it was music to his ears that the company felt the DNR was almost like a consultant helping the company comply with regulations. Walker added it isn’t about helping companies get around regulations.

“What we’re talking about is streamlining the regulations so that what we enforce is about common sense,” he said.

Walker’s speech to the conference came less than 12 hours after he spoke at election night rally in Waukesha.

His election night speech was animated and he criticized Tom Barrett for Milwaukee’s economic condition. In contrast, Walker’s speech this morning was measured and toned down.

However, Walker touched on many of the same themes in both addresses. In particular, he said the state’s job climate has improved since he took office, noting 6,500 net new manufacturing jobs created in 2012.

He also said the recall elections are a concern for companies considering adding jobs.

“I'm not going to talk about politics here today, but that’s just a statement of fact,” Walker said. “It was listed at the top of these surveys, the biggest concern about adding jobs was the impact of what was going to happen in these recall elections.”

-- By Arthur Thomas.

WisPolitics Platinum subscribers will see more from Walker's speech in today's PM Update.

Labels:

Posted @ 1:29 PM | Permalink

 1:29 PM 

New Walker ad touts record on health care

Gov. Scott Walker has released a new television ad that touts his record on health care.

The advertisement, entitled "Healthcare," begins with a narrator claiming Walker has provided more funding for healthcare than any previous governor. The ad then transitions to Walker talking to two women.

"You know, the truth is, we added more than $1.2 billion to programs like this," Walker says.


When the women respond with surprise to the claim, Walker confirms the addition of funding to programs like BadgerCare.

"By becoming more efficient, we're able to help to help seniors, working families and our most vulnerable," Walker says.

The ad ends with the narrator delivering the tagline, "Scott Walker: investing in health care, leading Wisconsin forward."


-- By Staff

Labels:

Posted @ 1:29 PM | Permalink

 12:52 PM 

Walker accepts two debate invites; Barrett wants four

Gov. Scott Walker's campaign announced today that he's accepted two debate invitations, half of the number Dem rival Tom Barrett wants.


Walker's campaign said he will do the the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association debate May 25 and a second scheduled May 31 and hosted by Mike Gousha of "UpFront with Mike Gousha," in partnership with Marquette University Law School, WisPolitics.com and the UpFront network of affiliates.


Barrett's campaign today challenged Walker to do four debates focused on jobs. That call did not specify which four possible debates Barrett wanted to do.

UPDATE: Barrett's campaign said today he accepted both of those offers as well as invites from the League of Women Voters with a consortium of statewide media June 3 and one hosted by Wisconsin Public TV, Wisconsin Public Radio, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Today's TMJ4.
-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 12:52 PM | Permalink

 9:52 AM 

PCCC unveils new spot featuring protests, effort to recall Walker

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee is starting a new TV ad featuring last year's protests at the Capitol and people talking about the effort to recall Scott Walker.

The 60-second spot begins with black-and-white footage of last year's protesters in the snow with some of them talking about Walker's collective bargaining bill and its impact on them.

It then switches to color footage of people talking about the current recall effort.

"I'm 85 years old, but I have never in my life seen anything like this," one woman says.

Adds a man, "This is for my children. This is for my wife. This is for my friends, my neighbors. This is for our community."

The spot finishes with a quote from a woman who the group had previously featured in an ad saying, "This is Republican class warfare, an attack on the middle class. This is a battle we need to win."

The PCCC says it plans multiple ad buys throughout the recall and the initial buy is for $30,000 on broadcast and cable in Madison.

 -- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 9:52 AM | Permalink

 9:50 AM 

New RGA attacks Barrett on jobs, taxes

The Republican Governors Association unveiled an ad today that says things are "looking up" in Milwaukee under Tom Barrett with taxes, spending and unemployment all on the rise.

The narrator adds, "Jobs losses under Tom Barrett are so devastating that Milwaukee became one of America’s 10 worst cities for unemployment."

The final shot of the ad shows Barrett speaking at a podium with former Gov. Jim Doyle just behind him. The ad does not mention Doyle by name or show his name in type anywhere in the spot.

"Now Barrett wants to be governor of Wisconsin?" the narrator asks. "No thanks, Mr. Barrett. You’ve done enough damage in Milwaukee."

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 9:50 AM | Permalink

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

 11:57 PM 

Lehman wins

Former state Sen. John Lehman earned a rematch with Republican Van Wanggaard after taking more than 68 percent of the vote in a primary with a "fake" or "protest" candidate put up by the state GOP.

With all precincts reporting, Lehman had 20,273 votes, or 68.1 percent, to 9,507, or 31.9 percent, for Tamra Varebrook, according to unofficial returns.

-- By Staff

Labels:

Posted @ 11:57 PM | Permalink

 11:46 PM 

Some more numbers

Most of the vote is in, and some numbers are coming into focus on today's turnout on both sides.

With 99 percent of the vote in, the four Dem candidates combined for 646,076 votes.


Walker pulled 613,597.

The “fake” or “protest” Dem candidate Gladys Huber received 4,649 votes, while Capitol protester Arthur Kohl-Riggs collected 19,591 in the GOP primary.

In the 2010 September primary for guv, 601,935 votes were cast with 362,913 going to Walker in his match up with Mark Neumann.

In the Dem primary that year, 213,415 voted for Tom Barrett, while 22,296 voted for little-known Tim John, according totals in the Blue Book.

Almost 1.3 million votes were cast in the guv races with some more yet to come in. With a voting age population of more than 4.3 million people, that puts turnout at around 30 percent. The Government Accountability Board last week projected a turnout of 30 percent to 35 percent.

According to the GAB, the highest voter turnout in a September primary in the last 50 years was 1964, when it was 27.9 percent. The highest turnout over the past decade was 22.5 percent in 2002, and the best turnout recorded was 38.9 percent in 1952.

 -- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 11:46 PM | Permalink

 11:15 PM 

Dexter says she's 'gratified' by victory, calls on Moulton to debate

Former Rep. Kristen Dexter attributed her victory in the 23rd SD Dem primary to voters that have "had enough of (Terry) Moulton’s record of slashing funding to education, rolling back women’s rights, and doing nothing to improve the economy for workers, families, or small businesses.”

“In the next 27 days I hope Terry Moulton will agree to publicly debate on the issues, our records, and the votes we’ve taken,” Dexter, D-Eau Claire, said in a statement. “People have been asking for a chance to hear Sen. Moulton defend his votes on policies that have made it harder for working class people to get by.”

Moulton spokesman Matt Capristo responded in a statement, "Voters now have a clear choice -- take Wisconsin back to billion dollar tax increases, multi-billion dollar budget deficits and historic job losses under Kristen Dexter or continue moving forward with balanced budgets, declining property taxes and an economy on the rise with Terry Moulton."

-- By Andy Szal

Labels:

Posted @ 11:15 PM | Permalink

 10:55 PM 

Walker tells supporters he wanst to build on 'positive' foundation of reforms

In a fiery 15-minute speech, Gov. Scott Walker told supporters in Waukesha he wants to build on the “positive” foundation of his reforms.

“We’re just getting started,” Walker said.

He said his policies have moved the state forward. Among the things Walker touted were closing the budget deficit without raising taxes, a decrease in property taxes and 15,600 jobs created in the first three months of 2012.

“We’re not going backward, we’re going forward,” Walker said.

Time and again in his speech, Walker asked those gathered at the Waukesha Co. GOP headquarters if they wanted to go backward. He tried to connect his opponent, Tom Barrett, to the policies of the Doyle administration, while also criticizing Barrett for a 28 percent increase in Milwaukee’s unemployment over the last eight years.

Walker said “out-of-state special interests” were trying to take control of Wisconsin’s electoral process.

“They can take their money, they can take their people, and they can go back to New Jersey or Washington or Chicago,” Walker said, drawing raucous cheers from the crowd.

The guv was joined on stage by his family and made reference to his sons several times during the speech. He said he has put the next generation ahead of the next election by making tough choices.

“Isn’t that what you elect us to do?” Walker asked, again drawing loud cheers from the crowd.

Walker’s wife Tonette spoke before the guv, as did Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and GOP state Chair Brad Courtney.

Kleefisch also went after Barrett for Milwaukee’s unemployment problems.

“Do we want to allow that unemployment rate to spread across the state of Wisconsin?” Kleefisch asked supporters.

She also noted that while some say she is the first lt. guv to face a recall in the country, she intends to be the first to do something else.

“I am going to be the first lieutenant governor in national history to be elected twice in my own first term,” Kleefisch said.

The rally was held in the GOP stronghold of Waukesha County. Courtney told the crowd the area will be important for the general election on June 5.

“We need to run up the score here in Waukesha County,” Courtney said.

-- By Arthur W. Thomas

Labels:

Posted @ 10:55 PM | Permalink

 10:45 PM 

Barrett posts big wins over Falk in Dane, Milwaukee counties

Tom Barrett's double-digit win in the Dem primary was fueled partly by what is one of the keys to winning statewide for Dem candidates in general elections -- running up the score in Dane and Milwaukee counties.

With 87 percent of precincts in for his home Milwaukee County, Barrett had a more than 50,000-vote lead on Kathleen Falk.

But he also did well in Falk's backyard. Barrett got nearly 62 percent of the vote in Dane County with the former Dane County exec falling under one-third of the total vote.

With 95 percent of the vote in, Barrett was beating Falk by more than 138,000 votes statewide.

 -- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 10:45 PM | Permalink

 10:30 PM 

Compas says she's ready to take on Fitzgerald in June

Democratic challenger Lori Compas released a statement Tuesday night saying she was "humbled by the support" she received in the primary and that she's ready to face Sen. Scott Fitzgerald in the general election.

“As I continue meeting with business owners, local elected officials and residents across the district, one thing is clear,” Compas said. “Whether or not you agree with Scott Fitzgerald’s views, his divisive behavior has stopped our government from focusing on job creation. I look forward to getting Wisconsin back on track.”

-- By Staff

Labels:

Posted @ 10:30 PM | Permalink

 10:25 PM 

Barrett to supporters: Need you like never before

Tom Barrett told hundreds of cheering supporters in his victory speech that "I need you like I've never needed you before and more important, this state needs you like it's never needed you before."

"We have a lot of work to do in the next 27 days," he said, warning that Scott Walker's campaign would unleash a barrage of attack ads.

Blaming Walker for dividing Wisconsin as he has never seen it, Barrett said, "That division is the exact opposite from the way I will govern."

"It does not have to be this way in Wisconsin," he said.

Barrett said that under Walker, the state lost the most jobs in the nation between March 2011 and March 2012, and said of Walker, "He took his eye off the ball."

But he said, "The message we are sending tonight is that we want a governor who's going to stay home, who doesn't want to be a rock star and who will work on creating jobs.

"I will not be beholden to out-of-state interests," Barrett said.

In addition to ripping Walker for accepting large amounts of out-of-state money, traveling outside of Wisconsin and creating an "ideological civil war," Barrett made reference to an ongoing John Doe investigation involving former Walker aides.

"Do we want a governor who has to have a legal defense fund?" he asked, as the crowd shouted, "No!"

Wisconsin Dem party chairman Mike Tate assured reporters he was confident unions would support Barrett from now on, saying the party will be united "110 percent" behind Barrett.

"I fully expect all of the (Dem primary) candidates will campaign for Tom Barrett," said Tate. "I believe that everybody who supported Kathleen Falk or other candidates is going to be ready and willing and fired up to go beat Scott Walker and elect Tom Barrett governor."

State Sen. Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee, aaid Barrett seemed more forceful than he'd ever seen him.

"He was especially incendiary tonight," said Coggs. "You could tell he's fired up."

Asked what Barrett should do to break the tie among Wisconsin voters who appear equally divided between Barett and Walker, Coggs said the momentum is on Barrett's side because people are so unhappy with Walker. Barrett's strategy should be to focus on jobs, jobs, jobs, advised Coggs.

-- By Kay Nolan

Labels:

Posted @ 10:25 PM | Permalink

 10:21 PM 

Tate calls Barrett win 'overwhelming'

Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate called Barrett's lead an "overwhelming victory and said that even though Wisconsin is a 50-50 state, "we are in an excellent position to elect Tom Barrett" guv.

Tate told reporters he fully expected the losing Dem candidates to campaign for Barrett.

"This election is not about money," Tate said. "It's about priorities. We want to end the strife, where friends can't talk to friends and neighbors can't talk to neighbors."

Tate said Walker's "drastic slash-and-burn attitude" toward workers and his "war on women" have alienated voters.

-- By Kay Nolan

Labels:

Posted @ 10:21 PM | Permalink

 10:19 PM 

Obama's campaign says president 'proud to stand with Tom Barrett'

Barack Obama's campaign says the president is "proud to stand with Tom Barrett and the hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin families who are coming together to move Wisconsin forward.”

“In the coming weeks, Wisconsin families have a clear choice to make; between a governor who has divided our state like never before by putting the very wealthy ahead of what’s best for the middle class, and Tom Barrett, who has spent his career advocating for economic security and fairness for Wisconsin families," said Obama for America Wisconsin state director Tripp Wellde.

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 10:19 PM | Permalink

 10:13 PM 

Dexter moves on

Former state Rep. Kristen Dexter, D-Eau Claire, has advanced in the 23rd SD recall election after defeating "fake" Dem James Engel.

She'll face incumbent Terry Moulton, R-Chippewa Falls, in the June 5 election.

-- By Staff

Labels:

Posted @ 10:13 PM | Permalink

 9:48 PM 

Falk backs Barrett in concession speech, thanks supporters for putting another dent in glass ceiling

In her concession speech Tuesday night, Kathleen Falk threw her full support behind Tom Barrett and urged her supporters to stay united in the fight against Gov. Scott Walker.

Falk said she called Barrett to congratulate him on his victory and called on her supporters to coalesce around the Milwaukee mayor in the general election.

“Tom Barrett will focus on the real needs of this state, Falk said. “Just as you supported me, we must now support him. We must support him with all our energy and enthusiasm.”

Falk told supporters that they if they remain united over the next 28 days, they can heal the state and get Wisconsin back on track.

“I urge you, I implore you, to continue to keep up this fight. The next four weeks may be the most important in our state’s history,” Falk said.

Falk also thanked her supporters for helping her put “another big dent in that 164-year-old glass ceiling in the governor’s office.”

“We’ll all keep working till we crack it open,” she said.

-- By Adam Wollner

Labels:

Posted @ 9:48 PM | Permalink

 9:42 PM 

Seidel moves on to face Petrowski

Rep. Donna Seidel, D-Wausau, has defeated "fake" Dem opponent Jim Buckley and will face fellow state Rep. Jerry Petrowski next month.

Petrowski, R-Marathon, jumped in the race for the 29th SD after Sen. Pam Galloway, R-Wausau, resigned in March.

-- By Staff

Labels:

Posted @ 9:42 PM | Permalink

 9:31 PM 

Falk, WEAC, AFSCME congratulate Barrett on win; ask supporters to unite

Former Dane Co. Executive Kathleen Falk congratulated Mayor Tom Barrett on his win and said she would join him tomorrow to "renew our commitment to taking our government back."

"The next four weeks may be the most important in our state’s history. And each one of you has an important role to play," Falk said in a statement. "Let’s join together to restore all those things we love about Wisconsin. Let’s make sure that this people’s movement continues, and that our voices are heard here in our state and across our nation.

Falk said Barrett would focus on jobs and education and encouraged her supporters to turn out for him.

"We must support him with all our energy and enthusiasm. This movement needs the passion of all of you who have worked so long and with such sacrifice to make this recall happen," Falk said. "If we all keep working together, in 28 days we get our state back on track."

The Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teacher's union, also released a statement backing Barrett, saying it would stay focused on outsing Gov. Scott Walker from office. The union invested heavily in the effort to support Falk and has openly feuded with Barrett in recent years.

“Tonight marks another milestone in our effort to recall Scott Walker and reclaim Wisconsin,” said Mary Bell, WEAC president, in a statement. “In this historic recall election, less than a month away, WEAC will support Tom Barrett. Educators stand united in their goal to recall the most divisive, anti-worker, anti-education governor in Wisconsin history.”

AFSCME also said they'll fully support Barrett in the general election.

“AFSCME members have been proud to support our friend Kathleen Falk, said AFSCME Council 24 Executive Director Marty Beil.  "But the ultimate goal has always been to defeat Scott Walker.  The grassroots campaign we’ve built to counter Walker’s millions from out-of-state billionaires will be working hard to help Tom Barrett win."

-- By Jason Smathers

Labels:

Posted @ 9:31 PM | Permalink

 9:27 PM 

Mitchell to face Kleefisch next month

The AP is reporting that Mahlon Mitchell, the head of the Madison firefighters' union, has won the Dem primary for lt. governor and will face incumbent Rebecca Kleefisch in the general recall election.

Mitchell defeated "protest" candidate Isaac Weix and private investigator Ira Robins.

-- By Staff

Labels:

Posted @ 9:27 PM | Permalink

 9:22 PM 

Dem guv candidates to come together tomorrow in Milwaukee

The three losing Dem guv candidates will join nominee Tom Barrett in Milwaukee for a unity event, the state party has announced.

The party had originally planned a rally on the Capitol steps tomorrow evening, but canceled that, saying it wanted to focus on voter outreach instead.

Tomorrow's event will be held at Barrett's Milwaukee home.

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 9:22 PM | Permalink

 9:18 PM 

GOP reaction to Barrett win

The state GOP didn't even wait for the polls to close to put out a release slamming Tom Barrett. But now that the Milwaukee mayor has been declared the winner of the Dem nomination, Scott Walker's campaign is out with its own dig.

Friends of Scott Walker Deputy Campaign Manager Dan Blum predicted Barrett's record of raising taxes will not play well with voters as he "enters the general election in his soon to be third statewide losing campaign."

"While Governor Walker’s term has seen unemployment drop to its lowest rate since 2008, unemployment under Tom Barrett has risen more than 28 percent," Blum said. "Rather than Tom Barrett’s path of taking Wisconsin back to the days of billion-dollar deficits, double-digit tax increases and record job loss, we are confident that voters will choose to stand with Governor Walker and move Wisconsin forward.”

State GOP spokesman Ben Sparks' statement prior to the polls closing contended Dems were divided.

"Tom Barrett's failed record in Milwaukee has been a serious concern throughout this contentious primary, and tonight, many Democrats showed they're still not convinced he's the right candidate to challenge Governor Walker," Sparks said.


-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 9:18 PM | Permalink

 9:17 PM 

Compas advances in 13th SD

The AP is reporting that Fort Atkinson Dem and recall organizer Lori Compas has defeated "fake" Dem candidate Gary Ellerman.

She'll face Senate GOP Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau in the general election.

-- By Staff

Labels:

Posted @ 9:17 PM | Permalink

 9:13 PM 

Mitchell appears at Falk party, says Dems will coalesce around nominee

Lt. guv recall candidate Mahlon Mitchell has arrived at Kathleen Falk’s Election Night party, but did not say who he voted for in the guv primary.

Mitchell said although today’s primary is important, the real battle is on June 5 and that Dems must remain focused on defeating Gov. Scott Walker.

“Tomorrow we’re going to coalesce around whoever the Democratic candidate is,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell added that he feels “fantastic” about his chances in his own race against Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch.

-- By Adam Wollner

Labels:

Posted @ 9:13 PM | Permalink

 8:53 PM 

Barrett has double-digit lead early

Tom Barrett was pulling in just more than half of the Dem primary vote in early returns.

With 17 percent of the vote in, Barrett had 57,221 votes, or 53.7 percent, to 40,695 votes, or 38.2 percent.

In the lt. guv race, Mahlon Mitchell had 59,551 votes, or 49.4 percent. "Fake" or "protest" Dem Isaac Weix was outpacing private investigator Ira Robins with 28.3 percent of the vote.

-- By Staff

Labels:

Posted @ 8:53 PM | Permalink

 8:47 PM 

Falk backers remain hopeful, say will support whoever Dem nominee is in fight against Walker

Although Kathleen Falk has trailed in the polls as of late, supporters at her Election Night party remain hopeful she can pull of a victory in the recall primary.

As the polls closed Tuesday, around 40 Falk supporters gradually rolled in to the former Dane County Executive’s Election Night party at the Edgewater Hotel on Lake Mendota. Most supporters say they do not take much stocks in recent polls and are optimistic Falk can with the primary, but will support whichever Dem gets put up against Gov. Scott Walker.

The atmosphere is relatively laid back as supporters enjoy a buffet while listening to music and watching poll results as they come in on a projector screen.

Scot Ross, Falk’s spokesman, said Dem was the underdog coming into today, but that he feels great about the campaign’s efforts to get out the vote throughout the day and that the race is now in the hands of the voters. He added that Dems will remain united in the fight to oust Walker from office no matter who wins the primary.

Sen. Mark Miller is also in attendance at Falk’s party, but said he is there to support whoever the Dem nominee ends up being.

-- By Adam Wollner

Labels:

Posted @ 8:47 PM | Permalink

 8:42 PM 

Barrett backers start trickling in to Election Night party

A cadre of more than 40 reporters and photographers from local and national media are filling six tables and a large riser at the Hyatt in downtown Milwaukee, where Mayor Tom Barrett's election night party is being held.

At 8:15 p.m., Barrett supporters are trickling in. Most are dressed casually and wearing Barrett name tag stickers that are being handed to them at the check-in table.

A six-piece bluegrass band is playing outside the conference room, where a podium awaits for Barrett. Mud River Lee and the Blue Grass Orchestra members are strumming on guitars, a banjo, mandolin, fiddle and washboard, while singing songs about union victory.

There's a bar but no food, and most people are sitting quietly, empty-handed. There are four flat-screen TVs are set up, but they are being ignored so far.

-- By Kay Nolan

Labels:

Posted @ 8:42 PM | Permalink

 8:40 PM 

Walker backers gather

In the heart of one of Wisconsin's most Republican counties, preparations are under way for tonight's campaign rally.

The event is taking place at the Waukesha County Republican Party headquarters. There are a few of the guv's supporters already here, but the bulk of them should arrive after 8:45 p.m. Those who are here sound up beat and are talking amongst themselves.

Walker is set to speak at 10 p.m. in a warehouse-like room that has been lined with large "We stand with Scott Walker" signs. A large American flag hangs behind the podium where the guv will speak later. At the moment there are no TVs or projectors in the room on which those in attendance could watch returns come in.

-- By Arthur W. Thomas



Labels:

Posted @ 8:40 PM | Permalink

 6:32 PM 

Clerks report issues with voters improperly casting ballots in both guv primaries

Several clerks say they’re having issues with voters trying to cast ballots in both guv primaries, which invalidates their ballot.

Eau Claire Clerk Donna Austad said voters are not listening to the instructions poll workers are giving them to cast ballots in only one of the guv primaries. Some have insisted that they heard on the news or read in the paper they were allowed to cast ballots in both of those races.

Unlike a normal election, voters can for in the GOP primary for guv, for example, and the Dem primary for lt. guv. But they are only allowed to vote in one primary per race, so they cannot vote in the GOP guv primary and the Dem race.

When those ballots are counted by the machines, they are invalidated and voters are given another ballot.

Austad said that’s causing some issues. City officials expected turnout to be about 30 percent to 35 percent. But by 5 p.m., about 25 percent of registered voters had already cast ballots, and she projected it would hit about 40 percent. The city ordered ballots based on its turnout projection with a cushion in case it went higher. But the voting errors are forcing officials to move ballots between wards to make sure they don’t run out.

“When you anticipate a turnout, that’s what you order,” she said. ““How do you anticipate how many people are going to require a second or third ballot?”

Other clerks said they’re having similar experiences.

Wausau Clerk Toni Rayala said her office received a number of calls before today with questions about voting in the primaries, and poll workers are taking time to explain that to voters, but it was still an issue.

It was the same problem in Milwaukee, said Election Commissioner Sue Edman.

“We’re having our inspectors remind voters that you can only vote Democrat or Republican, to not vote both” in the guv primaries, she said.

“It’s been a problem throughout the day, but we’re just having our poll workers remind people.”

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 6:32 PM | Permalink

 4:54 PM 

GAB director says biggest complaint at polls today about candidates circulating nomination papers

GAB Director Kevin Kennedy says the biggest complaint election officials have received today is over candidates circulating nomination papers at polling sites.

Kennedy said state law allows the circulation of papers at polling sites, but circulators have to be outside the building and cannot badger anyone to sign.

Kennedy said election officials have had similar complaints raised before about petitions circulated at polling sites. This situation is somewhat unique because the circulation period was moved up to April 15 to June 1 because the state primary is now in August.

“We see this occasionally, but right now we’re in the heart of nomination papers so it’s not surprising,” Kennedy said, adding those complaining want a “totally political free zone” at the polling sites.

Kennedy said the other issue is the GAB ordered the removal of all ads and literature directing people to bring state-issued ID cards with them to the polls because of the state’s voter ID law after Dane County judges struck down the requirement.

But the ads weren’t taken down on some Milwaukee buses.

“It’s the kind of thing that tells you when people pay attention to this stuff,” Kennedy said. “It’s on Election Day. It’s a message that should have been communicated already.”

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 4:54 PM | Permalink

 3:09 PM 

WMC starts new TV ad that says things 'looking up'

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce is running a new TV ad that says “things are looking up for Wisconsin families.”

The narrator says unemployment is falling, employers say they’re hiring again and new businesses are starting, while Gov. Scott Walker’s reforms balanced the budget and “allowed us to protect our priorities like schools and other vital services.”

“Families balance their budget and now that Walker has cleaned up Wisconsin’s budget mess, we’ve gained 15,000 new jobs so far this year,” the narrator says. “Wisconsin is moving forward.”

CMAG, which is tracking political advertising for WisPolitics.com in the guv’s race, says the ad first ran yesterday afternoon in Milwaukee.

A WMC spokesman did not immediately return a call seeking info on the spot.

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 3:09 PM | Permalink

 2:45 PM 

GAB posts reminder that ballot order for candidates selected randomly

The GAB today posted a reminder that the order of candidates listed on the ballot is decided by a random drawing after fielding a series of questions on why many of the "fake" or "protest" Dems appeared first in those races.

For example, Gladys Huber and Isaac Weix, the candidates the state GOP put up in the guv and lt. guv's race respectively, appear first in the list of primary candidates for those races. But Gov. Scott Walker is first in his GOP primary with Capitol protester Arthur Kohl-Riggs.

The statute calls for the "determined by the board by the drawing of lots."

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 2:45 PM | Permalink

 12:02 PM 

Dane Co. treasurer drops 2nd CD bid

Dane Co. Treasurer Dave Worzala today announced his withdrawal from the 2nd CD Democratic primary, saying, "I believe the time is not right for my candidacy."

"I urge the remaining candidates in this race to run a clean, positive campaign," Worzala said in a statement. "While this seat is likely to remain in Democratic hands, it is important to stay unified leading into November so we can work together in electing Tammy Baldwin to the US Senate and re-electing President Obama."

Four candidates remain in the Dem primary to succeed Baldwin: Madison state Reps. Mark Pocan and Kelda Roys, Madison attorney Matt Silverman and Cambridge consultant Dennis Hall. Mt. Horeb Republican Chad Lee is also in the race.

-- By Andy Szal

Labels:

Posted @ 12:02 PM | Permalink

 11:29 AM 

Kreitlow among 'Red to Blue' candidates at DCCC fundraiser

Former state Sen. Pat Kreitlow is among 12 congressional challengers scheduled to attend a D.C. fundraiser today for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, according to a report in Politico.

The reception, which asks individuals for $250, $500 or $1,000 contributions and seeks $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000 donations from PACs, features most of the latest candidates to be named to the DCCC's "Red to Blue" program in targeted GOP-held seats. Kreitlow, D-Chippewa Falls, is challenging U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy of Weston and was named to the Red to Blue program late last month.

Many House Dem leaders, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer and Assistant Leader Jim Clyburn, are set to attend the fundraiser.

The National Republican Congressional Committee alleged that Kreitlow has "signed up to rubber-stamp Nancy Pelosi’s big-government agenda of reckless spending."

"Maybe Kreitlow should find a campaign office in the Wisconsin district he wants to represent in Congress before he tries to fix his first quarter fundraising flop by begging Nancy Pelosi and liberal special interests to bail him out," NRCC spokeswoman Andrea Bozek said in a statement.

-- By Andy Szal

Labels:

Posted @ 11:29 AM | Permalink

 7:21 AM 

Greater Wisconsin targets Walker on John Doe in new TV ad

The Greater Wisconsin Political Fund questions what Walker knew about illegal campaign activity in his county exec office in a new TV ad.

The spot features a series of news clip on the probe, with a narrator making points in between.

As news anchors talk about an FBI raid at the home of a former aide, illegal campaigning connected to Walker, and former aides being charged and ordered to stand trial, the narrator says the probe has already resulted in two convictions and says Walker personally hired two key figures.

“What did Governor Walker know and when?” one anchor asks.

The narrator follows, “How could Walker not know what was happening just a few feet from his own desk?” a narrator asks. “The investigation continues.”

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 7:21 AM | Permalink

Monday, May 7, 2012

 3:17 PM 

Barrett TV ad says he'll stop fighting, end chaos

Tom Barrett’s latest TV ad says he’s someone who can “stop the fighting and end the chaos” as people across Wisconsin look for a “new day and different direction.”

The narrator promises Barrett will “protect education and fight for jobs,” while touting his endorsement of Dems such as U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl and “families across Wisconsin because they know Tom Barrett will stand up for us.”

Barrett then talks directly into the camera, “It’s time to bring Wisconsin together. I’m Tom Barrett, and that’s why I’m running for governor.”

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 3:17 PM | Permalink

 11:10 AM 

Walker's latest TV ad says his policies helping employers, saving taxpayers, while Barrett wants to raise taxes

Gov. Scott Walker’s latest TV ad says because of his policies, Wisconsin employers are creating jobs, while Tom Barrett has promised to raise their taxes.

The spot flips back and forth between highlighting Walker’s accomplishments and slamming Barrett.

The narrators say Wisconsin’s unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been since 2008, while Milwaukee’s unemployment rate has gone up 29 percent under Barrett. They also say Walker’s reforms have saved taxpayers more than $1 billion, while Barrett “wants to undo those reforms and raise your taxes to pay for it.”

“Forward. Walker. Backwards. Barret,” the spot concludes.

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 11:10 AM | Permalink

Sunday, May 6, 2012

 8:26 PM 

Barrett says Walker's money edge could sway voters against him

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett today said he thinks Scott Walker's fundraising advantage will end up hurting the governor by the end of the campaign.

"I think, at the end of the day, that money is going to turn around and bite him in the butt," Barrett told reporters in Bay View. "I think the people in this state don't want to have their government dictated and run and dominated by out-of-state money."

Barrett said some people that had supported Walker are changing their minds after hearing where the governor's money was coming from.

"Whether they're liberal, conservative or independent, I think they're offended that this much out of state money is flowing into this state," he said.

Barrett was in Bay View for the 126th anniversary of the Bay View Massacre, when five people were killed during a labor demonstration in 1886. (See background from the Wisconsin Historical Society)

Many at the event wore buttons promoting an eight-hour work day. There didn't appear to be many in the crowd displaying support for any particular Dem candidates. Rather, there was clear support for recalling Walker. Barrett and other politicians in attendance only each spoke to the gathering briefly.

Former Rep. Peter Bock, D-Milwaukee, was also in attendance. Bock is married to former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, one of Barrett's opponents in the Dem primary.

"We cannot let them declare war on us," Bock told the gathering. "This is a class war they have declared on us."

Barrett told those in attendance that Walker ultimately wants to make Wisconsin a right-to-work state.

"You can see what the roadmap is," Barrett told the crowd.

Speaking to reporters, Barrett also connected the governor's fundraising to his argument that Walker ultimately wants to make Wisconsin a right-to-work state. Barrett said he wants to hear the governor say he will veto any right-to-work legislation that reaches his desk.

"Quite honestly, I don't know if he can say that because so much of his money comes from out-of-state interests," Barrett said.

Last week on ""UpFront With Mike Gousha," Walker said he won't pursue right-to-work legislation if he retains office and praised private sector unions as major partners in business development.

"I think it is clear after all that we've been through this past year our state needs to move forward and having a big battle over something like that's not something we'd be interested in doing," Walker said of right-to-work.

Barrett reiterated his position that given Walker's fundraising advantage, the governor should be leading by more.

"By all objective criteria, Scott Walker should be crushing me like an elephant's crushing an ant," Barrett said.

He added later, "If this is based on out-of-state money I lose, but I have a lot of confidence in the people of the state of Wisconsin. I think the people of the state of Wisconsin are smart i think when they see something that doesn't seem right they react to it."

Despite keeping his focus on Walker, Barrett said he is not looking past Tuesday's primary.

"I've been doing this long enough to know that what happens on Tuesday is going to determine what happens on Wednesday," Barrett said. "But I'm taking it very seriously, both Tuesday and then Wednesday morning we'll start looking at the next step. But this is not a situation where you look passed anything. I'm asking people to get out and vote on Tuesday, its very important that people vote on Tuesday."

Asked if anything about June's general election could be learned from turnout on Tuesday, Barrett said it was hard to tell. He noted that the state is in "uncharted waters," when it comes to elections. He added that turnout will be important for the June election.

"Frankly, in 2010, a lot of Democrats stayed home," Barrett said. "I think now though you have situation where the Democratic base is fired up and the Republican base is fired up. I think both camps are fired up in a huge way."

-- By Arthur Thomas

Labels:

Posted @ 8:26 PM | Permalink

 2:11 PM 

Falk tells Wausau crowd a 'mom' needed to heal Wisconsin

WAUSAU – Kathleen Falk on Sunday compared Wisconsin to a family that is hurting and asked cheering supporters at a labor temple who generally leads a family toward healing.

“It takes mom to get people back together. That’s how families do it,” said Falk, who for 14 years served as Dane County executive, the first woman in that office.

Falk told a crowd of about 60 people at the Wausau Labor Temple that she raised her son to not think that men are better than women or women are better than men.

Falk characterized herself as a woman who has broken through anti-women barriers and glass ceilings all her life, a woman with a “big-tent” theory of bringing people together.

“We just want our opportunity to do what the men have had their opportunity to do,” the 60-year-old mother said. “That’s what’s fair. The fact that we haven’t had a woman governor in 164 years is a little bit lame. I say, if not now, when? But I believe I am the most qualified of all the candidates.”

Falk, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout and Secretary of State Doug La Follette square off in a Democratic primary Tuesday for the right to challenge Walker in a recall election June 8. Recent polls indicate Barrett, who narrowly lost to Walker in 2010, and Falk, with the endorsements of many labor unions, are the frontrunners.

Le Mellin, a 72-year-old retired technical service manager from Mosinee, said he stopped at a Barrett campaign event in Stevens Point on Saturday and Falk’s appearance in Wausau on Sunday because he wanted more information before deciding whom to support Tuesday.

He might not decide until he goes into the voting booth, he said.

“For me, it should be a no-brainer because I dislike Walker so much and what he has done to the state of Wisconsin,” Mellin said. “I want to make sure I am going to vote for the candidate that stands the best chance of beating Walker.”

He left Sunday’s session with Falk with a good “gut feeling” about her.

“She talked more specifically by about issues and how she’s handled them than Tom Barrett did,” Mellin said.

On a Sunday morning campaign tour that included stops in Rhinelander and Wausau before noon, Falk talked some religion, too, but only lightheartedly.

“It’s like being in church right here,” she said, smiling at the crowd. “Thank you.”

Falk focused her only harsh words at Walker, calling him dishonest as a candidate for governor two years ago, a failure at job-creation and a misguided supporter of tax breaks for corporations in hopes they “trickle down.”

“You know he isn’t delivering our agenda here in Wisconsin,” Falk said. “He is delivering an agenda for a far-right extreme, national agenda that isn’t ours.”

Falk said new manufacturing jobs can be created in Wisconsin in the wood-pulp industry by finding new uses for that resource, including for jet fuel. Central Wisconsin recently suffered the closure of a paper mill in Brokaw that cost the economy some 400 jobs.

Wisconsin can also be a leader in finding new solutions for water pollution as a way for more new jobs, Falk said.

Falk drew loud applause when she promised to fight for restoration of union rights that she said were needed to keep the middle class viable. She has vowed to veto any state budget that doesn’t include that provision.

“A generation before us fought hard for a better life for all of us and I’ll be darned if we let 50 years of collective bargaining go down the drain,” Falk said. “Measure me, please, by what I’ve walked, not just by my thoughts. I’ve got the record here that is the best one to go toe to toe against Scott Walker.”

-- By Robert Imrie

Labels:

Posted @ 2:11 PM | Permalink

Saturday, May 5, 2012

 9:33 PM 

In visit to Milwaukee, Vinehout says she could woo swing voters in general election

Gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Vinehout spent Saturday afternoon in the heart of Milwaukee, where she told residents of the Riverwest neighborhood that she's the candidate who can win over the small but crucial undecided vote that will determine the outcome of the recall.

With polls showing Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in a dead heat with Gov. Scott Walker, Vinehout said it makes sense to choose a Democratic candidate who can win swing voters in what she calls Wisconsin's "fertile crescent" -- a curved swath stretching from La Crosse and Eau Claire, through Wausau and up through Green Bay and northward.

"This is where Walker's numbers are soft," Vinehout told a small group gathered at the Riverwest Public House, a community-owned bar that serves as a neighborhood center.

"We need someone to appeal to voters who do not always vote Democrat," she said. "I won when Tom Barrett got 3 percentage points less than I did and Russ Feingold got 2 percentage points less than I did, in a part of the state where Democrats have to carry in order to win."

"I provide the strongest contrast to Scott Walker," said Vinehout. "Ten years, I've spent dairy farming. Now when those dairy farmers wake up on election day and they do their chores and they come in and take off their boots and put on their going-to-town clothes, think about it -- who are they going to vote for? Scott Walker that spent his whole life in public office and is a politician or Kathleen Vinehout, who trudged out to the barn at 5 a.m. and knows what it's like to get her hands dirty and her boots muddy? Scott Walker already lost the teachers -- he can't afford to lose both the teachers and the farmers."

She added, "If you don't believe me, think about that he opened his campaign on a dairy farm in western Wisconsin and he was just in Eau Claire yesterday and today. I mean, why is he spending so much time in my neighborhood?"

Read full coverage from WisPolitics.com

Labels:

Posted @ 9:33 PM | Permalink

Friday, May 4, 2012

 8:43 PM 

In Dem debate, Falk appeals directly to those who signed recall petitions

Kathleen Falk said in Friday night's debate that Tom Barrett’s approach to restore collective bargaining powers for public employees was inadequate and directly appealed to those who signed recall petitions.

Pushing back against the notion that Barrett would be a stronger candidate to take on GOP Gov. Scott Walker, she insisted “only you can defeat Scott Walker.”

She said she’s worked “side-by-side with you” and “we will get the job done” before touting the support of the various labor, environmental and other groups that have endorsed her campaign.

“They have said that I am the strongest candidate to go toe-to-toe with Scott Walker,” Falk said, touting what she said was an “unprecedented grassroots coalition.”

Trailing in the public polls, Falk has largely passed up chances to go directly after Barrett and did so again Friday night in the only televised Democratic gubernatorial debate on Wisconsin Public TV. She did, however, point out their different approaches to public policy, including collective bargaining.

Barrett took no direct shots at his nearest competitor for the nomination. Along with Kathleen Vinehout and Doug La Follette, all four trained their ire on Walker. The primary election is Tuesday.

Barrett mocked Walker’s reputation as a “rock star” in conservative circles, pledging if elected he wouldn't follow that path. He suggested Walker doesn’t really appear to want the guv’s job, happy to instead travel the country raising money and giving speeches. He also slammed Walker for transferring $60,000 in campaign funds to his legal defense fund.

See more on tonight's debate.

-- By Staff

Labels:

Posted @ 8:43 PM | Permalink

Thursday, May 3, 2012

 3:36 PM 

Kohl-Riggs to run first TV ad over the weekend

Arthur Kohl-Riggs, the fixture of Capitol protests who’s running against Gov. Scott Walker in the GOP primary, plans to begin running his first TV ad over the weekend.

His campaign said the spot, which parodies the Dos Equis “Most Interesting Man in the World” ads, will run this weekend on Charter and Time Warner cable. It was also looking at buying airtime in broadcast markets.

The narrator in the spot says, “His beard has been known to cross party lines. Unlike opponents, he prefers to raise money from inside the state. Were he leading the state, it would never lose its way. He is the most interesting Republican in the world.”

The video features black and white footage of Kohl-Riggs in a black suit and top hat around the Capitol, shaking hands with supporters and performing physical feats.

“I don’t always run for governor, but when I do, I run Republican,” he says. “Stay honest, my friend. Vote Art for guv May 8.”

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 3:36 PM | Permalink

 11:28 AM 

Barrett in TV ad: Walker can't defend his record, so he's attacking me

Tom Barrett says in a new TV ad that Scott Walker is attacking him because “he can’t defend his own record on jobs.”

In the spot, Barrett says when he hears all the negative ads running against him, “I have to ask myself who is that guy?”

After saying Walker can’t defend his record, he says under Walker Wisconsin lost more jobs than any state in the country and holds up a newspaper with the headline “State losses worst in the U.S.”

“I’ll end Scott Walker’s ideological war and focus on putting Wisconsin back to work,” Barrett says. “I’m Tom Barrett and that’s why I’m running for governor.”

The spot first aired Wednesday night in Green Bay, according to media tracking CMAG is doing for WisPolitics.com.

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 11:28 AM | Permalink

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

 1:43 PM 

Barrett widens lead over Falk in Marquette poll, even with Walker

Tom Barrett has widened his lead over Kathleen Falk in the Dem primary for guv, according to the latest Marquette University Law Poll.

The survey also found Barrett about even with Gov. Scott Walker in a head-to-head.

In the Dem primary, Barrett led Falk 38 percent to 21 percent among those who said they would vote in Tuesday's primary. Eight percent favored Doug La Follette, while 6 percent backed Kathleen Vinehout.

The Marquette poll from March found Barrett leading Falk 36-29 in a survey that was conducted the week before Barrett got into the race.

The survey found 47 percent of registered voters backed Barrett in a match up with Walker, while 46 percent supported the guv. Among likely voters, it was 48 Walker, 47 Barrett.

Walker led Falk 49-42 among registered voters and 49-43 among likely voters.

The poll of 705 registered Wisconsin voters was conducted Thursday through Sunday using landlines and cell phones. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.8 percentage points for the full sample.

For the 561 respondents who said they were likely to vote in the June recall election, the margin of error was plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

For the 451 respondents who said they would vote in the Dem primary, the margin of error was 4.7 percentage points.

The survey also found President Obama leading Mitt Romney 51-42, a slight uptick for the president from the 48-43 lead he had in late March.

-- By JR Ross

Labels:

Posted @ 1:43 PM | Permalink

 10:34 AM 

Wisconsin for Falk rolls out next pre-primary ad

Third-party group Wisconsin for Falk today announced another TV ad as part of its $1 million campaign ahead of Tuesday's primary election.

The spot, titled "Counted Out," begins with an announcer saying "Governor Walker's counted you out," accusing him of destroying workers' rights, hurting jobs and making it more difficult to challenge violations of equal pay laws.

"Kathleen Falk's been counted out too," the spot continues, alleging that critics said a women couldn't win an election for Dane County executive or balance a budget while creating jobs.

"Now, they're hoping she won't win the fight to restore your rights," the announcer says. "But you can prove them wrong. Again."

-- By Andy Szal

Labels:

Posted @ 10:34 AM | Permalink
: See older blog items :

Election Blog site feed
Advertisement
Advertisement

wispolitics.com Social News

Follow Us

ABOUT THE BLOG

Updates from WisPolitics.com on primary and general elections in Wisconsin.

Editor: JR Ross
Reporters: Andy Szal, Jason Smathers

· Election Blog site feed

ELECTION LINKS

· Campaign ads
· Audio archive
· Government Accountability Board (state elections)
· Federal Election Commission (federal elections)

ARCHIVE

· February 2007
· April 2007
· February 2008
· March 2008
· April 2008
· September 2008
· October 2008
· November 2008
· February 2009
· April 2009
· February 2010
· March 2010
· April 2010
· September 2010
· November 2010
· February 2011
· March 2011
· April 2011
· May 2011
· June 2011
· July 2011
· August 2011
· September 2011
· October 2011
· November 2011
· December 2011
· January 2012
· February 2012
· March 2012
· April 2012
· May 2012
Copyright ©2012 WisPolitics.com All rights reserved. | WisOpinion.com | WisBusiness.com  |  Website development by wisnet.com LLC  | Website design by Makin’ Hey Communications