Wisconsin Senate Recall-a-palooza: 2012 Edition

[Meeker]

So how does this work on the ballot? Is there just a new election that the incumbent can run in? A new election that is valid only if a simultaneous recall question is approved?

[Meeker]

So how does this work on the ballot? Is there just a new election that the incumbent can run in? A new election that is valid only if a simultaneous recall question is approved?

In Wisconsin, once the petitions are certified, the recall has occurred. The subsequent election is like any other general election, unless more than one member of the out-party decides to run, then there is a primary and 8 weeks later, a general election.

So in theory the "recalled" official could decide to not even run?

[Meeker]

The arrogance of these guys is just astounding.

[Meeker]

So what's the current timeline of these? I've lost track.

[Meeker]

Moore is actually running TV ads, odd for a State Senate race.

Cable has made TV ads an affordable thing for lots of local races these days.

[Meeker]

Very little of these races seem to actually be about the collective bargaining bill. At least that's the impression I'm getting from the TV ads.

[Meeker]

Was Phil's comment intended to be a joke? Was it supposed to be a swipe at me? I'm confused.

[Meeker]

In the two Republican primaries are there clear favorite/better candidate?

[Meeker]

Hansen is on track to run even with or better than his 2008 numbers. Awesome.

[Meeker]

Was Phil's comment intended to be a joke? Was it supposed to be a swipe at me? I'm confused.

Not even sure how it could be seen as a swipe. It was a joke.

Oh ok. No problem then.

[Meeker]

AP called the 12th for Simac.

With one precinct left, Hansen is leading 66 to 34 - his exact '08 margin.

[Meeker]

Stop taking about Spain! Wisconsin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOYus1BE7jk

[Meeker]

One of the campaign offices of We are Wisconsin, a left-wing PAC supporting the Democrats, was destroyed in a fire Saturday morning. The office was helping out State Rep. Jennifer Shilling who is running against Dan Kapanke. Shilling's office was also damaged a little.

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_b5828580-bacf-11e0-a78e-001cc4c002e0.html

[Meeker]

Doesn't the downplaying of the collective bargaining issue hurt in some ways? Every state has made deep cuts in education for instance, so I would think running against the "gutting of education" would not produce as much of a response considering the acknowledge need for states to control their budgets. It just wouldn't seem that you have the kind of effect were you to run against what you have termed a partisan power grab, which would in my opinion have an effect on swing voters even if they don't particularly care much about unions. We'll get to see whether this was a wise strategy, fairly shortly, I guess.

Firing your kid's band teacher makes people a lot more angry than taking away collective bargaining from people you may or may not know.

[Meeker]

It'll all come down to the ground game. Drama!

[Meeker]

Here's the AP results link for tomorrow.

[Meeker]

http://twitter.com/#!/djambrek/status/101040179883675649

Disheartened to see voter turnout in student wards at Oshkosh and Milwaukee are low, but not surprised



Hehehe

Uhh, duh. It's the summer.

[Meeker]

Because Wisconsin state law says they have to be held x number of days after the signatures are submitted. And the volunteers only had y number of days to collect signatures. And if they wanted to collect enough signatures they had to start on z date while anger over the budget was still fresh in peoples minds.

[Meeker]

Only those State Senators up for re-election in 2012 were eligible for a recall. Signatures were gathered against all of them, but some of them didn't get enough to be recalled.

The Democratic recalls were organized by Republicans in retribution for the recalls against the Republicans.

[Meeker]

The waiting is the worst

People are still technically voting right now though - you get to vote so long as you were in line at 8:00 PM. This'll cause a bit of a delay in high turnout areas.

[Meeker]

One tiny precinct in SD-02 in; Cowles leads 94-6.

[Meeker]

I checked those two precinct's '08 results; one was tied then and the Dem is winning now; the other was won by Obama and now the Republican is leading.

[Meeker]

Two precincts in SD-08 in; McCain got 57% there in '08 and Darling is getting 62%.

[Meeker]

I don't see how we can get more than two at this point.

[Meeker]

I don't get why the AP hasn't picked up on those Fond du Lac numbers.