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| Wisconsin recall election enters its final stretch – US politics live | Wisconsin recall election enters its final stretch – US politics live |
| (4 months later) | |
| 5pm: And finally: a urinal on the third floor of the US Capitol building "exploded" this morning, drenching the House press gallery in ... well, insert your own simile or metaphor here. It shouldn't be too hard. | 5pm: And finally: a urinal on the third floor of the US Capitol building "exploded" this morning, drenching the House press gallery in ... well, insert your own simile or metaphor here. It shouldn't be too hard. |
| Tomorrow we'll have all the last minute action and results from the centre of the political universe, Wisconsin. | Tomorrow we'll have all the last minute action and results from the centre of the political universe, Wisconsin. |
| 4.32pm: The Associated Press tallies the tens of millions being spent on Scott Walker's recall election in Wisconsin: | 4.32pm: The Associated Press tallies the tens of millions being spent on Scott Walker's recall election in Wisconsin: |
| Along the way, [Walker]'s become a star among Republicans and the most successful fundraiser in Wisconsin politics, collecting at least $31 million from around the country since taking office. That obliterated his fundraising record of $11 million from 2010. | Along the way, [Walker]'s become a star among Republicans and the most successful fundraiser in Wisconsin politics, collecting at least $31 million from around the country since taking office. That obliterated his fundraising record of $11 million from 2010. |
| About $63m has been spent on the race so far, including $16m from conservative groups such as the Republican Governors Association, Americans for Prosperity and the National Rifle Association. | About $63m has been spent on the race so far, including $16m from conservative groups such as the Republican Governors Association, Americans for Prosperity and the National Rifle Association. |
| Democratic groups — including those funded by unions, the Democratic Governors Association and the Democratic National Committee — have poured in about $14m, based on a tally from the government watchdog group the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. | Democratic groups — including those funded by unions, the Democratic Governors Association and the Democratic National Committee — have poured in about $14m, based on a tally from the government watchdog group the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. |
| The majority of Walker's donations have come from people outside Wisconsin. Most of Barrett's $4.2m came from inside the state. | The majority of Walker's donations have come from people outside Wisconsin. Most of Barrett's $4.2m came from inside the state. |
| 4.12pm: Scott Walker himself was asked today about Obama's non-appearance in Wisconsin, although Walker's response on Fox Business was hard to comprehend: | 4.12pm: Scott Walker himself was asked today about Obama's non-appearance in Wisconsin, although Walker's response on Fox Business was hard to comprehend: |
| It is interesting. For all the hype. It's kind of confusing for all the voters here. It's a sign there is a real concern. What I have seen is voters who tell me they voted for my opponent or they are Democrats, but in each case they are telling me they are voting for me. | It is interesting. For all the hype. It's kind of confusing for all the voters here. It's a sign there is a real concern. What I have seen is voters who tell me they voted for my opponent or they are Democrats, but in each case they are telling me they are voting for me. |
| So: "voters who tell me they voted for my opponent ... in each case they are telling me they are voting for me"? Let's assume he means something else, because that literally doesn't make sense. | So: "voters who tell me they voted for my opponent ... in each case they are telling me they are voting for me"? Let's assume he means something else, because that literally doesn't make sense. |
| 4pm: At today's White House press briefing, Jay Carney was asked why President Obama wasn't doing any campaigning in Wisconsin in support of Tom Barrett: | 4pm: At today's White House press briefing, Jay Carney was asked why President Obama wasn't doing any campaigning in Wisconsin in support of Tom Barrett: |
| Q: Tomorrow in Wisconsin's a big contest. Why didn't the president travel there? | Q: Tomorrow in Wisconsin's a big contest. Why didn't the president travel there? |
| Carney: The president endorsed Tom Barrett right after he won the primary. The president supports him. Stands by him. And, you know, I think if you talk to the campaign, I'm sure they can give you more details about how that support is manifested. | Carney: The president endorsed Tom Barrett right after he won the primary. The president supports him. Stands by him. And, you know, I think if you talk to the campaign, I'm sure they can give you more details about how that support is manifested. |
| But you know you have a unique situation in Wisconsin, where you know the election is a result of a recall petition. But the president absolutely stands by Tom Barrett and, you know, hopes he prevails. | But you know you have a unique situation in Wisconsin, where you know the election is a result of a recall petition. But the president absolutely stands by Tom Barrett and, you know, hopes he prevails. |
| Q: Does the president think that he would not have been able to help? | Q: Does the president think that he would not have been able to help? |
| Carney: Look, I think that there are a lot of factors in that contest that make it unique. How it came about, for one thing. The money being spent, for another. | Carney: Look, I think that there are a lot of factors in that contest that make it unique. How it came about, for one thing. The money being spent, for another. |
| The fact is the president's made clear all along his opposition to those who would take away workers rights, to actions that would take away or diminish worker's rights. | The fact is the president's made clear all along his opposition to those who would take away workers rights, to actions that would take away or diminish worker's rights. |
| And he's also made clear his support for Tom Barrett. | And he's also made clear his support for Tom Barrett. |
| Later there was a follow-up: | Later there was a follow-up: |
| Q: Jay, back on Wisconsin, are you trying to tell us that you don't think the president has decidedly distanced himself from the recall vote in Wisconsin? He doesn't [sic] give a speech about it. He hasn't been there since February. | Q: Jay, back on Wisconsin, are you trying to tell us that you don't think the president has decidedly distanced himself from the recall vote in Wisconsin? He doesn't [sic] give a speech about it. He hasn't been there since February. |
| Carney: Look, I think I just made clear that the president stands by the Democratic candidate and made that clear right after the primary. And for other efforts to support Mr Barrett's candidacy, I would refer you to the president's campaign. | Carney: Look, I think I just made clear that the president stands by the Democratic candidate and made that clear right after the primary. And for other efforts to support Mr Barrett's candidacy, I would refer you to the president's campaign. |
| 3.31pm: How is the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel covering the recall election in Wisconsin? After months of it, the paper is probably getting bored with the subject. Which is the only plausible explanation for this making its way into print or whatever: | 3.31pm: How is the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel covering the recall election in Wisconsin? After months of it, the paper is probably getting bored with the subject. Which is the only plausible explanation for this making its way into print or whatever: |
| As if to illustrate that no pursuit is too trivial in the coverage of this topic, I conducted an imaginary survey of various fictional television characters to gauge how they might vote in Tuesday's recall election. | As if to illustrate that no pursuit is too trivial in the coverage of this topic, I conducted an imaginary survey of various fictional television characters to gauge how they might vote in Tuesday's recall election. |
| Rupert Murdoch's Sun once ran a piece by Joseph Stalin on why he would vote for the British Labour party in 1987. At least Stalin was real (albeit dead at the time). | Rupert Murdoch's Sun once ran a piece by Joseph Stalin on why he would vote for the British Labour party in 1987. At least Stalin was real (albeit dead at the time). |
| 3.10pm: By way of balance, the Guardian's Rory Carroll sends over some pro-Scott Walker song lyrics. | 3.10pm: By way of balance, the Guardian's Rory Carroll sends over some pro-Scott Walker song lyrics. |
| This is from Ron and Kay Rivoli – who scored an online hit a few years ago with Press One for English. This new one is an anti-recall song they premiered yesterday at a Tea Party Express rally in De Pere: | This is from Ron and Kay Rivoli – who scored an online hit a few years ago with Press One for English. This new one is an anti-recall song they premiered yesterday at a Tea Party Express rally in De Pere: |
| Listen up, listen up, listen up, Here's what you need to know We're reclaiming our future with the power of our vote We the people of Wisconsin we're standing tall and this is what we say We've voted once, we'll voted again, Scott Walker he's gonna stay | Listen up, listen up, listen up, Here's what you need to know We're reclaiming our future with the power of our vote We the people of Wisconsin we're standing tall and this is what we say We've voted once, we'll voted again, Scott Walker he's gonna stay |
| It's time to get tough, enough is enough, Scott Walker simply did his job. Time to stop this silly stuff They balanced Wisconsin's budget the first time in 15 years If the unions think they own this state here's something they need to hear. | It's time to get tough, enough is enough, Scott Walker simply did his job. Time to stop this silly stuff They balanced Wisconsin's budget the first time in 15 years If the unions think they own this state here's something they need to hear. |
| See, you can have your billion-dollar super pacs and your Koch Brothers but you can't beat badly-written lyrics from enthusiastic amateurs. | See, you can have your billion-dollar super pacs and your Koch Brothers but you can't beat badly-written lyrics from enthusiastic amateurs. |
| 2.55pm: The Guardian's Rory Carroll reports a few more slivers of good news for the Democratic party from Wisconsin, where he is following the last minute campaigning for tomorrow's recall election: | 2.55pm: The Guardian's Rory Carroll reports a few more slivers of good news for the Democratic party from Wisconsin, where he is following the last minute campaigning for tomorrow's recall election: |
| It may not be enough to turn the tide for the Democratic party but Steve Kagen, Appleton's former Congressman, tells us that the niece and nephew of Joe McCarthy – the infamous witch-hunting Republican senator – are voting for Tom Barrett tomorrow. Scott Walker's supporters may consider that Un-American activity. | It may not be enough to turn the tide for the Democratic party but Steve Kagen, Appleton's former Congressman, tells us that the niece and nephew of Joe McCarthy – the infamous witch-hunting Republican senator – are voting for Tom Barrett tomorrow. Scott Walker's supporters may consider that Un-American activity. |
| The Democrats also try to channel Appleton's other famous son, Harry Houdini, by holding a singathon at a plaza named after him. Does that mean they can escape defeat? Houdini's first successful escape, after all, was from Appleton – aged seven, when his family moved to another town. | The Democrats also try to channel Appleton's other famous son, Harry Houdini, by holding a singathon at a plaza named after him. Does that mean they can escape defeat? Houdini's first successful escape, after all, was from Appleton – aged seven, when his family moved to another town. |
| Either way, here are some sample lyrics from the singathon, to be sung to the tune of Roll out the Barrel: | Either way, here are some sample lyrics from the singathon, to be sung to the tune of Roll out the Barrel: |
| Roll out the recall, Oh, Scotty, we'll show you the door! Roll out the recall, Yes, Scotty, you'll be guv no more! Zing! Boom! You're history! The recall will make that quite plain. Along with beer you share a future, You're going down the drain! | Roll out the recall, Oh, Scotty, we'll show you the door! Roll out the recall, Yes, Scotty, you'll be guv no more! Zing! Boom! You're history! The recall will make that quite plain. Along with beer you share a future, You're going down the drain! |
| 2.38pm: Jim Messina, manager for Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, sends out this "Everything is going swell!" video to supporters, to remind them that everything is going swell and there is no need to panic. | 2.38pm: Jim Messina, manager for Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, sends out this "Everything is going swell!" video to supporters, to remind them that everything is going swell and there is no need to panic. |
| The video includes an intriguing screenshot of the state of the electoral college map – and shows what the Obama campaign thinks (or wants us to think) are the key swing states. | The video includes an intriguing screenshot of the state of the electoral college map – and shows what the Obama campaign thinks (or wants us to think) are the key swing states. |
| As you can see if you squint, the "toss-up states" are Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Indiana and Iowa – as you'd expect – as well as more unusually Wisconsin and New Hampshire. Interesting. Michigan, too, is merely labeled "lean Democratic," which seems pessimistic. | As you can see if you squint, the "toss-up states" are Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Indiana and Iowa – as you'd expect – as well as more unusually Wisconsin and New Hampshire. Interesting. Michigan, too, is merely labeled "lean Democratic," which seems pessimistic. |
| 2.21pm: The Guardian's Gary Younge is in Wisconsin's for tomorrow's recall election – and ponders the question over of whether or not President Obama should have campaigned in the state: | 2.21pm: The Guardian's Gary Younge is in Wisconsin's for tomorrow's recall election – and ponders the question over of whether or not President Obama should have campaigned in the state: |
| When seeking to energise supporters during the last election Obama evoked the words of the late African American poet and essayist June Jordan: "We are the ones we have been waiting for". Some activists in Wisconsin long ago gave up hoping he would come to support them in their recall efforts. While reporting in Racine and Milwaukee I sense little frustration at his absence. This piece in the Washington Post suggests most political consultants think his appearance would have made little difference, even if they're divided on whether he should have gone or not. | When seeking to energise supporters during the last election Obama evoked the words of the late African American poet and essayist June Jordan: "We are the ones we have been waiting for". Some activists in Wisconsin long ago gave up hoping he would come to support them in their recall efforts. While reporting in Racine and Milwaukee I sense little frustration at his absence. This piece in the Washington Post suggests most political consultants think his appearance would have made little difference, even if they're divided on whether he should have gone or not. |
| But it's also predicated on the assumption that the recall will fail. It's a bit early for a post-mortem but its worth pointing out that if it succeeds he will have lost the chance to have stood for something – not least his own pro-growth policies. | But it's also predicated on the assumption that the recall will fail. It's a bit early for a post-mortem but its worth pointing out that if it succeeds he will have lost the chance to have stood for something – not least his own pro-growth policies. |
| It's precisely because the outcome is uncertain that he hasn't gone, which may well be a self-fulfilling prophecy since we'll never know if his arrival might have been a game changer. "Everyone knows how risk averse Obama is," a senior party strategist told the Washington Post. "At least he's consistent." | It's precisely because the outcome is uncertain that he hasn't gone, which may well be a self-fulfilling prophecy since we'll never know if his arrival might have been a game changer. "Everyone knows how risk averse Obama is," a senior party strategist told the Washington Post. "At least he's consistent." |
| 2pm: Have failed solar companies become the high-tech mistresses of modern campaigns? First Solyndra, now this: | 2pm: Have failed solar companies become the high-tech mistresses of modern campaigns? First Solyndra, now this: |
| A Massachusetts solar company to which Mitt Romney personally delivered a $1.5m loan when he was governor has gone belly up, leaving him vulnerable to the same "picking winners and losers" charges that he's been lobbing at President Barack Obama over Solyndra. | A Massachusetts solar company to which Mitt Romney personally delivered a $1.5m loan when he was governor has gone belly up, leaving him vulnerable to the same "picking winners and losers" charges that he's been lobbing at President Barack Obama over Solyndra. |
| The president's reelection campaign wasted no time noting Romney's support for Lowell-based Konarka Technologies, which announced Friday it had filed for bankruptcy protection with plans to lay off more than 80 workers and liquidate its assets. | The president's reelection campaign wasted no time noting Romney's support for Lowell-based Konarka Technologies, which announced Friday it had filed for bankruptcy protection with plans to lay off more than 80 workers and liquidate its assets. |
| 1.40pm: An attack ad warning that a presidential candidate's record as governor was a poor one on job creation and so on? Yes, that'll work. | 1.40pm: An attack ad warning that a presidential candidate's record as governor was a poor one on job creation and so on? Yes, that'll work. |
| Great ad. But that line of argument didn't do the job for George HW Bush in 1992 against Arkansas governor Bill Clinton. | Great ad. But that line of argument didn't do the job for George HW Bush in 1992 against Arkansas governor Bill Clinton. |
| (Hat-tip for this: Larry Sabato, patron saint of election wonks.) | (Hat-tip for this: Larry Sabato, patron saint of election wonks.) |
| Here's the Obama campaign's 2012 version attacking Romney's record in Massachusetts: a more pointed attack than the Bush one on Clinton, and a more effective one, but essentially the same argument. | Here's the Obama campaign's 2012 version attacking Romney's record in Massachusetts: a more pointed attack than the Bush one on Clinton, and a more effective one, but essentially the same argument. |
| 1.22pm: The latest polling from Wisconsin was published last night by PPP, and found that while Republican incumbent Scott Walker was ahead, his lead over Tom Barrett was a slim 50% to 47%: | 1.22pm: The latest polling from Wisconsin was published last night by PPP, and found that while Republican incumbent Scott Walker was ahead, his lead over Tom Barrett was a slim 50% to 47%: |
| Barrett is actually winning independent voters by a 48-46 margin. The reason he continues to trail overall is that Republicans are more excited about voting in Tuesday's election than Democrats are. Our projected electorate voted for Barack Obama by only seven points, even though he took the state by 14 in 2008. If the folks who turn out on Tuesday actually matched the 2008 electorate, Barrett would be ahead of Walker by a 50-49 margin. It's cliche but this is a race that really is going to completely come down to turnout. | Barrett is actually winning independent voters by a 48-46 margin. The reason he continues to trail overall is that Republicans are more excited about voting in Tuesday's election than Democrats are. Our projected electorate voted for Barack Obama by only seven points, even though he took the state by 14 in 2008. If the folks who turn out on Tuesday actually matched the 2008 electorate, Barrett would be ahead of Walker by a 50-49 margin. It's cliche but this is a race that really is going to completely come down to turnout. |
| That is a sliver good news, although it is highly unlikely – all things being equal – that tomorrow's turn-out will match the 2008 electorate. Not impossible, just highly unlikely. | That is a sliver good news, although it is highly unlikely – all things being equal – that tomorrow's turn-out will match the 2008 electorate. Not impossible, just highly unlikely. |
| 1.10pm: Behold, it's the Mitt Romney "birthers" – the swivel-eyed types who dispute Romney's presidential qualifications as a "natural born" citizen because his dad was born in Mexico. | 1.10pm: Behold, it's the Mitt Romney "birthers" – the swivel-eyed types who dispute Romney's presidential qualifications as a "natural born" citizen because his dad was born in Mexico. |
| BuzzFeed Politics has a quote from one of them which ... well, you be the judge: | BuzzFeed Politics has a quote from one of them which ... well, you be the judge: |
| If Putin came over here 20 years ago, got some woman pregnant and she had a kid here and we find out his dad is Putin, imagine the crap that would hit the fan. Now put this back in the 1948 timeline when we really distrusted the Russians. | If Putin came over here 20 years ago, got some woman pregnant and she had a kid here and we find out his dad is Putin, imagine the crap that would hit the fan. Now put this back in the 1948 timeline when we really distrusted the Russians. |
| No, I have no idea either. The end. | No, I have no idea either. The end. |
| 12.50pm: It's that time of the campaign season when journalists write long inside-baseball accounts of who does what inside a presidential campaign. | 12.50pm: It's that time of the campaign season when journalists write long inside-baseball accounts of who does what inside a presidential campaign. |
| The end result is read by about six (non-politician, non-journalist) people and includes sentences such as this, from Politico on the Romney campaign: | The end result is read by about six (non-politician, non-journalist) people and includes sentences such as this, from Politico on the Romney campaign: |
| There were reports of tension between [campaign manager Matt] Rhoades and [admaker Stuart] Stevens at times during the lengthy primary slog, but a number of people attributed it more to different styles than anything else. | There were reports of tension between [campaign manager Matt] Rhoades and [admaker Stuart] Stevens at times during the lengthy primary slog, but a number of people attributed it more to different styles than anything else. |
| As always in these pieces, the candidate himself or herself is an organisational genius with everything at their fingertips. Until such time as things go wrong, at which point Part Two of this article is written, and reveals that everyone is fighting like rats in a sack and the candidate is totally out of touch. | As always in these pieces, the candidate himself or herself is an organisational genius with everything at their fingertips. Until such time as things go wrong, at which point Part Two of this article is written, and reveals that everyone is fighting like rats in a sack and the candidate is totally out of touch. |
| 12.37pm: There is unhappiness within parts of the Republican camp over the position of Mike Leavitt, who – as reported below – is likely to be a big part of a post-election Romney victory. | 12.37pm: There is unhappiness within parts of the Republican camp over the position of Mike Leavitt, who – as reported below – is likely to be a big part of a post-election Romney victory. |
| The trouble is that Leavitt is and remains a big fan of both Romneycare and Obamacare healthcare reforms, and has run a consultancy that "has reaped financial benefits" of implementing aspects of the Obama reforms. | The trouble is that Leavitt is and remains a big fan of both Romneycare and Obamacare healthcare reforms, and has run a consultancy that "has reaped financial benefits" of implementing aspects of the Obama reforms. |
| Now RedState's Erick Erickson worries about a Romney White House staffed with people he delicately describes as "Obamacare pimps": | Now RedState's Erick Erickson worries about a Romney White House staffed with people he delicately describes as "Obamacare pimps": |
| Conservatives should therefore consider it unacceptable that Mike Leavitt has any role on the Romney campaign. Having pushed states to start implementing Obamacare, potentially to his profit, we must ask who is doing the vetting at Team Romney. | Conservatives should therefore consider it unacceptable that Mike Leavitt has any role on the Romney campaign. Having pushed states to start implementing Obamacare, potentially to his profit, we must ask who is doing the vetting at Team Romney. |
| Mike Leavitt does not sound like the type of guy who will look Mitch McConnell in the eye in 2013 and demand, on behalf of President Romney, full and unconditional repeal of Obamacare. | Mike Leavitt does not sound like the type of guy who will look Mitch McConnell in the eye in 2013 and demand, on behalf of President Romney, full and unconditional repeal of Obamacare. |
| Yeah but there's your nominee, Erick. | Yeah but there's your nominee, Erick. |
| 12.22pm: For those who came in late: the Associated Press has a handy backgrounder on the Wisconsin recall election: | 12.22pm: For those who came in late: the Associated Press has a handy backgrounder on the Wisconsin recall election: |
| Q: What started the effort to recall Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker? | Q: What started the effort to recall Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker? |
| A: The recall effort was born February 11, 2011. That was when Walker released his plan to address a state budget shortfall that called on most public workers to pay more for health insurance and pension benefits, and, most important, give up nearly all their collective bargaining rights. The proposal set the recall fire, led to protests that lasted weeks and grew as large as 100,000 people. It motivated 14 Senate Democrats to flee the state for three weeks in a vain attempt to stop the bill. Walker signed it into law March 11 virtually unchanged from how he proposed it. | A: The recall effort was born February 11, 2011. That was when Walker released his plan to address a state budget shortfall that called on most public workers to pay more for health insurance and pension benefits, and, most important, give up nearly all their collective bargaining rights. The proposal set the recall fire, led to protests that lasted weeks and grew as large as 100,000 people. It motivated 14 Senate Democrats to flee the state for three weeks in a vain attempt to stop the bill. Walker signed it into law March 11 virtually unchanged from how he proposed it. |
| 12pm: A long profile of New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg in New York magazine suggests he's toying with the idea of buying the New York Times and/or the Financial Times. And it includes this nugget: | 12pm: A long profile of New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg in New York magazine suggests he's toying with the idea of buying the New York Times and/or the Financial Times. And it includes this nugget: |
| Last winter, Bill Daley, then Obama's chief of staff, discreetly called the mayor and asked him if he wanted to be head of the World Bank – Robert Zoellick was stepping down. But Bloomberg did not want to have a boss, and he'd already begun to retool his life for his post-mayoralty. He turned the job down. | Last winter, Bill Daley, then Obama's chief of staff, discreetly called the mayor and asked him if he wanted to be head of the World Bank – Robert Zoellick was stepping down. But Bloomberg did not want to have a boss, and he'd already begun to retool his life for his post-mayoralty. He turned the job down. |
| So everyone – Bloomberg, Hillary Clinton, Susan Rice – turned down the World Bank job? Maybe they should just put an ad in the Economist next time and see what happens. | So everyone – Bloomberg, Hillary Clinton, Susan Rice – turned down the World Bank job? Maybe they should just put an ad in the Economist next time and see what happens. |
| 11.38am: The Guardian's Rory Carroll is on the ground in Wisconsin for the final day of campaigning. Here's his latest report – and it makes depressing reading for the Democratic side: | 11.38am: The Guardian's Rory Carroll is on the ground in Wisconsin for the final day of campaigning. Here's his latest report – and it makes depressing reading for the Democratic side: |
| Driving along Highway 41 linking the [Fox River] cities you see and hear one reason for the Republican surge: money. Walker billboards dot the route with not a sign for Barrett. | Driving along Highway 41 linking the [Fox River] cities you see and hear one reason for the Republican surge: money. Walker billboards dot the route with not a sign for Barrett. |
| The radio crackles with adverts attacking the Milwaukee mayor as a gun-controlling, criminal-coddling, union-schmoozing, tax-and-spend liberal dinosaur. On television it is the same. The Walker campaign, boosted by billionaire backers, has spent $31m, about seven times more than the recall side. | The radio crackles with adverts attacking the Milwaukee mayor as a gun-controlling, criminal-coddling, union-schmoozing, tax-and-spend liberal dinosaur. On television it is the same. The Walker campaign, boosted by billionaire backers, has spent $31m, about seven times more than the recall side. |
| 11am: The final day of campaigning is taking place in Wisconsin before tomorrow's recall election, the culmination of an epic battle within the state over public sector union representation and rights such as pensions. | 11am: The final day of campaigning is taking place in Wisconsin before tomorrow's recall election, the culmination of an epic battle within the state over public sector union representation and rights such as pensions. |
| So far both the Obama and Romney presidential campaigns have stayed away from the state and the election, given uncertainty over tomorrow's result, but that will change come Wednesday as both sides jostle to exploit or avoid the fallout. The Democrats sent the next best thing in the form of former president Bill Clinton, who campaigned in the state on Sunday. | So far both the Obama and Romney presidential campaigns have stayed away from the state and the election, given uncertainty over tomorrow's result, but that will change come Wednesday as both sides jostle to exploit or avoid the fallout. The Democrats sent the next best thing in the form of former president Bill Clinton, who campaigned in the state on Sunday. |
| Here's a brief summary of the latest news: | Here's a brief summary of the latest news: |
| • The Wisconsin recall election is held tomorrow – with a batch of recent polling suggesting that the race between Republican governor Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Tom Barrett is tightening, although Walker is still expected to retain his job barring an upset. Should Walker win he instantly becomes a significant figure in national Republican politics, and a possible vice presidential pick for Mitt Romney. | • The Wisconsin recall election is held tomorrow – with a batch of recent polling suggesting that the race between Republican governor Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Tom Barrett is tightening, although Walker is still expected to retain his job barring an upset. Should Walker win he instantly becomes a significant figure in national Republican politics, and a possible vice presidential pick for Mitt Romney. |
| • Mitt Romney's campaign appears to be planning ahead optimistically, as Politico reports that Mike Leavitt – the former Utah governor and Health and Human Services Secretary under President Bush – is to head Romney's post-election transition process and "has quietly taken the first steps toward drawing up the blueprint for a new administration, according to multiple GOP sources". | • Mitt Romney's campaign appears to be planning ahead optimistically, as Politico reports that Mike Leavitt – the former Utah governor and Health and Human Services Secretary under President Bush – is to head Romney's post-election transition process and "has quietly taken the first steps toward drawing up the blueprint for a new administration, according to multiple GOP sources". |
| • More unhappy news from the US economy, as official data showed output of US manufactured goods unexpectedly declined in April after demand for cars, machinery and computers fell – "compounding fears about a loss of momentum," according to the FT. | • More unhappy news from the US economy, as official data showed output of US manufactured goods unexpectedly declined in April after demand for cars, machinery and computers fell – "compounding fears about a loss of momentum," according to the FT. |
| • American Crossroads – the super pac headed by Karl Rove – has a new web ad out that blasts Obama for negative campaigning. | • American Crossroads – the super pac headed by Karl Rove – has a new web ad out that blasts Obama for negative campaigning. |
| It includes sound bites from Andrea Mitchell, Arianna Huffington, Ed Rendell and Cory Booker that are critical of the Obama campaign. | It includes sound bites from Andrea Mitchell, Arianna Huffington, Ed Rendell and Cory Booker that are critical of the Obama campaign. |
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