In Wisconsin, 1 Republican is recalled; 3 keep seats

[scandal 951]

In Wisconsin, 1 Republican is recalled; 3 keep seats

Two other state Senate races remain too close to call as the parties battle for control of the chamber. Democrats gain one seat.

By Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune

August 10, 2011

Reporting from Milwaukee — —

Republicans retained three seats and Democrats gained one Tuesday as the parties battled for control of the Wisconsin Senate in recall elections that both sides have said are a precursor for next year's fight for the White House and Congress.

Six Republican incumbents faced Democratic challengers in Senate districts scattered around the state. Voter turnout was reported to be heavy, with some county clerks predicting it would match levels seen in presidential elections.

Based on early returns, at least three GOP incumbents and one Democratic challenger won. The other two races were too close to call.

Democrats needed to win at least three of the races to have a chance to recapture the Senate, which they lost when Gov. Scott Walker and the GOP won control of the governor's mansion and both houses of the Legislature last fall. Two Democrats also face challengers next week.

After taking office, Walker and Republican lawmakers curbed public employees' collective bargaining rights and made them pay more for benefits. Anger over those moves led to the recall elections.

Both sides poured millions of dollars into TV ads, automated phone calls and direct mail. Total spending for the contests, including one last month that Democrats won and the two next week, easily exceeded $30 million.

A union coalition, We Are Wisconsin, used former Green Bay Packer Gilbert Brown in a last-minute phone campaign urging voters to defeat 24-year Republican state Sen. Robert Cowles. He was one of the winners, defeating challenger Nancy Nusbaum, Brown County executive and a former mayor of De Pere.

The other GOP winners were Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls, who defeated Democrat Shelly Moore, an Ellsworth teacher; and Republican Luther Olsen of Ripon, who defeated Democratic state Rep. Fred Clark.

Democrat Jennifer Shilling defeated Republican state Sen. Dan Kapanke of La Crosse.

One of the highest-spending races was in the north Milwaukee suburbs, where Democratic state Rep. Sandy Pasch challenged state Sen. Alberta Darling, elected to the body in 1992. Darling, co-chair of the Legislature's budget-writing panel, was a key target for labor unions.

On its face, the voting was about control of the state Senate, where Republicans hold a 19-14 majority. But it was also a measure of Walker's popularity and support for his conservative agenda. Unions are already discussing plans to try to recall him next year, after he has served the requisite year in office.

They were also trial runs for party organizers heading into the 2012 campaigns for the White House and Congress. Though it is not a traditional swing state, Wisconsin's presidential elections have been among the nation's closest in two of the last three cycles. President Obama took the state four years ago.

"People are incredibly stirred up on both sides because of events in Wisconsin," said Mike McCabe, executive director of the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a watchdog group that tracks candidate spending. "Wisconsin has been put on a national stage, and this is seen as something of a national referendum."

[luckytxn 2,265]

Socialists lose again.

[Zero Sum 305]

Democrats gained 2 seats, GOP retained the rest. Interesting 'loss.' Nice spin.

[rsn 135]

Democrats gained 2 seats, GOP retained the rest. Interesting 'loss.' Nice spin.

I predict the republicans will get at least one of those seats back, if not both, next week.

[luckytxn 2,265]

I predict the republicans will get at least one of those seats back, if not both, next week.

Seeing as how the Socialists bet everything on taking the state house and didn't then winning another seat or two is just icing on the cake.

[Zero Sum 305]

I predict the republicans will get at least one of those seats back, if not both, next week.

Who knows? At least now, Gov Walker seems to be singing a different tune to his 'my way or the highway' approach from a few months back. Seems he might be concerned for his own future, be it via recall, or via the next scheduled election.

[rsn 135]

Who knows? At least now, Gov Walker seems to be singing a different tune to his 'my way or the highway' approach from a few months back. Seems he might be concerned for his own future, be it via recall, or via the next scheduled election.

The possibility of a successful Walker recall is almost 0 based on the results of this recall election. Next gubernatorial election? Who knows, too far off.

Edited August 10, 2011 by rsn

[Zero Sum 305]

The possibility of a successful Walker recall is almost 0 based on the results of this election. Next election? Who knows, too far off.

True. Next election... if we allow ourselves to follow the 'media logic' of making this latest electoral manifestation a referendum on national politics... is that if a local GOP-dominated electoral map sees loss, and is maintained (perhaps)... then it might be a natural conclusion to see the local gov overseeing that government to be in trouble (if memories are refreshed about the approach taken there). Matching that to the disparities in the national opinion, GOP vs Democrats... it isn't exactly the Democrats who stand to lose. I might be wrong, but the memory loss in the electorate seems to be less this time around.

[mawilson 2,133]

Hopefully we'll get more tea party types in next year to shake up the Regime.

[Ban Hammer 13,651]

Hopefully we'll get more tea party types in next year to shake up the Regime.

you want some vj'ers to have a meltdown, don't you?

[Zero Sum 305]

Go-go Tea Nutters in WI! The Democrats there will surely be thankful.

[rsn 135]

While I agree with Walker's decisions so far, I'm certainly don't want to see any/more tea party presence

[mawilson 2,133]

Go-go Tea Nutters in WI! The Democrats there will surely be thankful.

I'd vote for any Tea Partier - no matter how schizophrenic - over a Republican-Democrat regimer.

Somebody's gotta throw that entitled boomer grandma off the cliff.

[Zero Sum 305]

Move to Wisconsin, mawilson.

The Koch brothers might have money available to help influence the vote that way.

[scandal 951]

I'd vote for any Tea Partier - no matter how schizophrenic - over a Republican-Democrat regimer.

Somebody's gotta throw that entitled boomer grandma off the cliff.

That's crazy talk. Reforming the system doesn't mean blowing it up. America already had its revolution.