Scott Walker recall goes live

[AmericanNation]

[Walker's] biggest donor was Diane M. Hendricks, founder of Beloit-based American Builders and Contractors Supply Co. Inc. Forbes estimates she's worth $2.8 billion. She gave the governor $500,000. She did not immediately return messages left through her company spokeswoman.

The next two biggest donors were Sheldon Adelson, chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Sands casino, and Richard DeVos, owner of the Orlando Magic basketball team and co-founder of the Amway Corp., a direct-sales company now under the Alticor company umbrella. Both gave Walker $250,000. Attempts to reach them Monday evening were unsuccessful.

Five people each gave Walker $100,000, including John W. Childs, chief executive officer of Boston equity firm J.W. Childs Associates; Warren A. Stephens, chief executive officer of Stephens Inc., a financial management company based in Little Rock, Ark.; Robert Kern, founder of Waukesha, Wis.-based generator manufacturer Generac, and his wife, Patricia Kern; and Patrick G. Ryan, founder of the Ryan Specialty Group, a Chicago brokerage firm.

Walker continues to display his grassroots appeal among ordinary Wisconsin residents.

Umm, yea he does.  Typically you shouldn't criticize the guy with the most grassroots support.  Ignoring the fact that he dominates in that category makes you look silly. 

...Ask a question to yourself like:
"Who has the most grassroots support?"
...Answer:
"Scott Walker"
...Think a thought:
"O, ok I won't pretend that he is weak in that area then."

...I'm trying to think of a single democrat running for state wide office with more grassroots support than Walker...  I don't think there is one. 

[Joe Republic]

Way to miss the point, hoss.

[AmericanNation]

Way to miss the point, hoss.

What is your point?  The guy needs money to overcome huge institutions and special interests (and their hordes of money) and individuals are willing to write him a check (Most of them in Wisconsin)...  A few of the biggest republican donors in the country have the race on their radar, shocker!  Maybe he shouldn't accept any money and campaign around the state ridding on a horse.     

[Nutmeg]

Maybe he shouldn't accept any money and campaign around the state ridding on a horse.     

He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse.

He's going the distance.

[Gass3268]

My prediction for tomorrow's Democratic Primary:

Tom Barrett 48%
Kathleen Falk 33%
Doug La Follette 11%
Kathleen Vinehout 8% 

[RogueBeaver]

So far Barrett is winning Dane County by 2-1. Curbstomp.

[Gass3268]

Looks like I over valued La Follette and Vinehout.

[Nhoj]

So far Barrett is winning Dane County by 2-1. Curbstomp.

Yep, falk actually seems to be doing best in the rural outstate counties for whatever reason.

[Beet]

Based on the results I assume Barrett is more liberal than Falk.

[Gass3268]

Falk wasn't that well liked in the rural areas and outer/suburban cities, her strength was in Madison. So we'll have to see if maybe that holds true in this election.  

[Big Wiggly Style]

Fun fact: I endorsed Tom Barrett for Governor in 2010. I might again in 2012. Not sure yet.

[Nhoj]

Based on the results I assume Barrett is more liberal than Falk.

That would be a wrong assumption.

[Gass3268]

Based on the results I assume Barrett is more liberal than Falk.

Not really. Falk is the favorite of the Unions while Barrett is the favorite of the party. Falk has made the stance that she would veto any budget that didn't restore collective bargaining rights. Barrett said he'd wait until he has the legislature to do so.

[RogueBeaver]

Barrett also used Walker's bill to balance his own city budget. Unions weren't too happy about that.

[Nhoj]

Barrett also used Walker's bill to balance his own city budget. Unions weren't too happy about that.

Union voters on the other hand seem to like barrett better than falk, judging by some of the areas hes winning.

[Gass3268]

Falk wasn't that well liked in the rural areas and outer/suburban cities, her strength was in Madison. So we'll have to see if maybe that holds true in this election.  

Nope, Falk is actually doing better in the Fox River Valley then she is in Dane County. it does however look like Vinehout might win a county!

[Nhoj]

Falk wasn't that well liked in the rural areas and outer/suburban cities, her strength was in Madison. So we'll have to see if maybe that holds true in this election.  

Nope, Falk is actually doing better in the Fox River Valley then she is in Dane County. it does however look like Vinehout might win a county!

heh yeah shes winning pepin which is of course in her senate district.

[rbt48]

Looks like the total party vote in the WI governor primaries (as of now) is about 619,000 R, 608,000 D.  I wonder how indicative of the final recall vote this will be?

[ag]

Looks like the total party vote in the WI governor primaries (as of now) is about 619,000 R, 608,000 D.  I wonder how indicative of the final recall vote this will be?

W/ 99% reporting it's 650,000 D 633,000 R

Given that the Republican one was pretty much uncontested, it might not be such a bad news for Walker either.

[bgwah]

I've always figured Walker would survive. Democrats are just going to look silly after this is all over. Hopefully I'm wrong..

[Senator Napoleon]

I've always figured Walker would survive. Democrats are just going to look silly after this is all over. Hopefully I'm wrong..

You (and I) will be right. This is a foolish waste of resources. The effort could have been put into Inslee's campaign.

[Invisible Obama]

Walker has some very devoted support

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/wife-drives-into-chippewa-falls-man-after-vote-argument-ke5bdap-150697635.html

A Chippewa Falls man who repeatedly tried to block his estranged wife from driving to the polls Tuesday was hospitalized with head, neck and back injuries when she struck him with her sport utility vehicle.

Jeffery Radle, a Gov. Scott Walker supporter, was on foot.

Amanda Radle, a recall proponent, was in a Dodge Durango.

The pair had been arguing early Tuesday afternoon over who she was going to vote for in the gubernatorial recall election primary, said Chippewa Falls Police Chief Wendy L. Stelter.

[Keystone Phil]

Only a seventeen thousand voter difference between Dems and Republicans and Walker only had a total joke primary opponent? Wow. Thanks for this recall.

[Meeker]

I suspect the margin will end up rather similar to 2010. I think the state is pretty evenly divided on Walker's actions but there's a portion of the population out there (5-10%) that opposes recalls out of principle and that'll carry the day for Walker.

[Governor Scott]

I suspect the margin will end up rather similar to 2010. I think the state is pretty evenly divided on Walker's actions but there's a portion of the population out there (5-10%) that opposes recalls out of principle and that'll carry the day for Walker.

That's possible.  It's too bad that Wisconsin doesn't let voters recall legislation instead of politicians like Ohio does, because then the Democrats would have better chances of getting what they want.