Governor Walker of Wisconsin has survived a recall election contest that was hyped up to be a barometer of the Republican's chances for this year's Presidential election. It was hyped up by the media and the Republican Party. The Democratic establishment gave the whole exercise a bye. Walker had infringed Trade Union bargaining rights and had incensed a large section of the Democratic and Trade Union establishment enough for them to obtain a million and a half signatures for a recall vote.
Walker received massive support from the Republican establishment with Governor after Governor making pilgrimage to Wisconsin in support of him. More significant is the $30 million Karl Rove and his cohorts threw into the race - by far the majority coming from outside Wisconsin. The Democratic contender, the Milwaukee Mayor Barrett, by contrast garnered $4 million nearly all of it from Wisconsin.
The lack of Democratic establishment support was highlighted by liberal Ed Schultz of MSNBC Television who had passionately campaigned for Walker's ouster. One night, in Prime Time, he implored Deborah Wasserman, the DNC National Chairman, to cut a check for $500,000 for expenses needed by the recall Walker campaign. He just could not understand the Democratic establishment's disinterest in this race.
WHY NO DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL INVOLVEMENT.
The one skill that the Obama team has, is undoubtedly in electioneering. They after all outmanouvered the Clintons. The issue in Wisconsin was about Union bargaining rights. The latter something dear and central to Democratic hearts. However, the whole confrontation took place in an atmosphere where there is an over 8% unemployment rate. The Democratic powers that be obviously read that the Independents, especially the unemployed ones, would have scant sympathy for the bewailing of loss of rights of those employed versus those that have no employment at all. They therefore felt they would risk Union ire by not giving money and high powered official presence but just pay lip service to the Unions' "just" cause.
IT WORKED
The exit polling data proved the Dems right. Obama was supported 51% to between 41% and 44% as the Presidential choice by the recall voters. Most significantly the same percentages confirmed that Obama was more likely to improve the middle class economic plight than Romney. So Obama and the Democratic establishment non involvement had succeeded in not clouding the swing voters' minds. They seperated the Walker recall from the Obama election manifesto.
As a bonus to the Democratic cause was the fact that the Democrats won back the Wisconsin senate. A number of Republican senators were in recall elections as well. One of them lost and the Democrats now control the Wisconsin Senate. While this may seem a pyrhic victory as November is almost upon us and the Senate are not due to meet again, nothing can stop the Democratic majority from calling an emergency session to limit Walker's powers.
REALITY
Obama and the Democratic establishment are conducting a massive online financial drive which has been very successful. The newest incentive to get supporters to donate is - look what can happen when we are outspent 8 to 1! ( Incidentally, there is no way that the Democrats can be outspent 8 to 1 if they compete).
Walker has been thrust into the national limelight as a torchbearer for the Republican cause. The downside is that he is slap bang in the middle of an investigation on irregularities and embezzlement of funds in his campaign to become Governor. Thirteen Walker aides are prepared to give testimony against those already charged in this scandal. Walker himself has already withdrawn $160,000 from campaign funds for his own legal defense. The Republicans need a scandal of this nature for a newly anointed savior like a hole in the head. But there is nothing they can do to spin it as a "political" move. It has already gone too far. They have gone out on a limb to support Walker.
So while team Obama would have preferred a Walker ouster they were really in a win win situation. They have lost no ground in Wisconsin. The Unions will not desert them and even those voters who are prepared to support a Republican Governor a few months before an election would rather vote for Obama as President. And there is now a Democratic Wisconsin Senate. Not a bad way to lose.
So much for Wisconsin being a swing State.
THE REAL LOSER
The real loser was organized labor. It was a fight they had to fight and they lost. It will give those Republican Governors who are also thinking of cutting Union bargaining power courage to go ahead. There has been a steady whittling away of Union power for decades and this another landmark set back.
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