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| Scott Walker faces Wisconsin recall election - live coverage | Scott Walker faces Wisconsin recall election - live coverage |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 11.23am: Faced with the stomach-churning prospect of Piers Morgan hosting CNN's royal coverage today, let's just skip the whole thing and watch President Obama's message. | |
| Meanwhile, Americans who have developed a taste for such pageantry should lobby for Nancy Reagan to tour Washington DC in an open-topped landau. | |
| 11am: Here's a taste of the nasty attack ads flying around Wisconsin in recent weeks – this one accusing Democratic candidate of being soft on violent crime – paid for by "Friends of Scott Walker": | 11am: Here's a taste of the nasty attack ads flying around Wisconsin in recent weeks – this one accusing Democratic candidate of being soft on violent crime – paid for by "Friends of Scott Walker": |
| The Atlantic's Molly Ball reports that the ad above is a symptom of an election campaign that has moved away from the issues that originally set the state on fire: | The Atlantic's Molly Ball reports that the ad above is a symptom of an election campaign that has moved away from the issues that originally set the state on fire: |
| The ad in question, being aired by Walker's campaign, opens with the blurred face of a two-year-old who died after being hospitalized for child abuse. "But Tom Barrett's police department didn't consider it a violent crime," the narrator intones, going on to conclude that Barrett "isn't telling the truth." | The ad in question, being aired by Walker's campaign, opens with the blurred face of a two-year-old who died after being hospitalized for child abuse. "But Tom Barrett's police department didn't consider it a violent crime," the narrator intones, going on to conclude that Barrett "isn't telling the truth." |
| At issue is a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation that found that the Milwaukee police department failed to correctly report many violent crimes, making the city's crime statistics look better than they actually were.... But Barrett contends that the ad's emotionally charged imagery all but accuses him of killing a small child. And Democrats call the ad a sign that Walker's camp is desperate and flailing about for distractions from the real issues. | At issue is a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation that found that the Milwaukee police department failed to correctly report many violent crimes, making the city's crime statistics look better than they actually were.... But Barrett contends that the ad's emotionally charged imagery all but accuses him of killing a small child. And Democrats call the ad a sign that Walker's camp is desperate and flailing about for distractions from the real issues. |
| 10.43am: The Guardian's Gary Younge – a veteran observer of US politics – is also on the ground in Wisconsin today, talking to voters ahead of the recall election. He sends his prediction for tonight's result: | 10.43am: The Guardian's Gary Younge – a veteran observer of US politics – is also on the ground in Wisconsin today, talking to voters ahead of the recall election. He sends his prediction for tonight's result: |
| I think it'll be close and – notwithstanding a Pollyanaish streak – there's maybe a 40-60 chance the recall might pass. Three reasons for why it's even possible: | I think it'll be close and – notwithstanding a Pollyanaish streak – there's maybe a 40-60 chance the recall might pass. Three reasons for why it's even possible: |
| 1) The early voting in Democratic areas like Milwaukee and Madison have been up by a far higher margin than those in Republican areas like Waukesha. Not enough to swing it if they vote in the same proportions as 2010 but I don't think they will be the same. | 1) The early voting in Democratic areas like Milwaukee and Madison have been up by a far higher margin than those in Republican areas like Waukesha. Not enough to swing it if they vote in the same proportions as 2010 but I don't think they will be the same. |
| 2) The polls are tricky because they are about something that's unprecedented. And so the margin of error matters more in this case than others which makes me think they're neck and neck. | 2) The polls are tricky because they are about something that's unprecedented. And so the margin of error matters more in this case than others which makes me think they're neck and neck. |
| 3) More people have more reason to hate Walker than have reason to love him. So the impetus to vote on the recall side is greater than the Walker side. | 3) More people have more reason to hate Walker than have reason to love him. So the impetus to vote on the recall side is greater than the Walker side. |
| But those are reasons why I think the Democrats have a chance. For all that, if I had to bet, I'd bet on Walker – but I wouldn't bet much. | But those are reasons why I think the Democrats have a chance. For all that, if I had to bet, I'd bet on Walker – but I wouldn't bet much. |
| 10.27am: There are already reports of dirty tricks surfacing in Wisconsin. Democratic candidate Tom Barrett's campaign sent out a last-minute fundraising email to supporters last night alleging that false robocalls were being made to confuse voters into staying away from the polls: | 10.27am: There are already reports of dirty tricks surfacing in Wisconsin. Democratic candidate Tom Barrett's campaign sent out a last-minute fundraising email to supporters last night alleging that false robocalls were being made to confuse voters into staying away from the polls: |
| Reports coming into our call center have confirmed that Walker's allies just launched a massive wave of voter suppression calls to recall petition signers. Here is what people are receiving across Wisconsin: | Reports coming into our call center have confirmed that Walker's allies just launched a massive wave of voter suppression calls to recall petition signers. Here is what people are receiving across Wisconsin: |
| "If you signed the recall petition, your job is done and you don't need to vote on Tuesday." | "If you signed the recall petition, your job is done and you don't need to vote on Tuesday." |
| Disgusting. To counter this insulting attack on our democracy, we need to fire up another call center to phone every recall petition signer with the correct information. This means we have an immediate need to place an additional one million phone calls. | Disgusting. To counter this insulting attack on our democracy, we need to fire up another call center to phone every recall petition signer with the correct information. This means we have an immediate need to place an additional one million phone calls. |
| Wisconsin Democratic Party says they have "at least" 440 lawyers in the field today in case of recount #WIrecall | Wisconsin Democratic Party says they have "at least" 440 lawyers in the field today in case of recount #WIrecall |
| Meanwhile, CNN's Peter Hamby reports that the Democratic party is gearing up for legal battles. | Meanwhile, CNN's Peter Hamby reports that the Democratic party is gearing up for legal battles. |
| 10.14am: The Guardian's Rory Carroll is out and about in Wisconsin, and he finds both Republican and Democratic supporters and activists claiming victory tonight: | 10.14am: The Guardian's Rory Carroll is out and about in Wisconsin, and he finds both Republican and Democratic supporters and activists claiming victory tonight: |
| Recall activists have struggled to convince some supporters that they can win the vote but in public remain upbeat. "The wind is down for the Republican party. I hear it and see it. I can tell you, they're losing momentum," Steve Kagen, a Democratic former Congressman, told the Guardian. | Recall activists have struggled to convince some supporters that they can win the vote but in public remain upbeat. "The wind is down for the Republican party. I hear it and see it. I can tell you, they're losing momentum," Steve Kagen, a Democratic former Congressman, told the Guardian. |
| Republicans said they remain confident of victory but take nothing for granted. "We are working flat-out until the last minute. We are not going to be like the hare who takes a nap just before the finish line," said Robert Dickerson, the party's field director in Appleton. | Republicans said they remain confident of victory but take nothing for granted. "We are working flat-out until the last minute. We are not going to be like the hare who takes a nap just before the finish line," said Robert Dickerson, the party's field director in Appleton. |
| 10am: It's decision day in Wisconsin's recall election, as voting is underway to decide the fate of the state's controversial Republican governor Scott Walker. | 10am: It's decision day in Wisconsin's recall election, as voting is underway to decide the fate of the state's controversial Republican governor Scott Walker. |
| Walker is facing an effort to oust him via the unusual mechanism of a recall election, and he is up against his Democratic challenger from the 2010 gubernatorial race, Tom Barrett, mayor of Milwaukee. | Walker is facing an effort to oust him via the unusual mechanism of a recall election, and he is up against his Democratic challenger from the 2010 gubernatorial race, Tom Barrett, mayor of Milwaukee. |
| That's not the only election night drama taking place tonight. In California it's primary day, with voting on a state-wide tobacco tax increase. But the comedy highlight of the night is likely to be in the chaotic Republican senate primary, with "Birther Queen" Orly Taitz among the hopeless cases taking part. | That's not the only election night drama taking place tonight. In California it's primary day, with voting on a state-wide tobacco tax increase. But the comedy highlight of the night is likely to be in the chaotic Republican senate primary, with "Birther Queen" Orly Taitz among the hopeless cases taking part. |
| Montana also sees a ferocious battle for the Republican nomination for governor, with the Democratic party hoping to benefit come November. | Montana also sees a ferocious battle for the Republican nomination for governor, with the Democratic party hoping to benefit come November. |
| Here's a summary of the latest news from Ryan Devereaux: | Here's a summary of the latest news from Ryan Devereaux: |
| • The big political news of the day is in Wisconsin where Republican Scott Walker hopes to become the first governor in history to successfully fend off a recall election. The margins are expected to be razor-thin in the state where thousands turned out in record numbers last year to occupy the state capitol in protest of Walker's attack on collective bargaining rights. Polls show Walker with a slim lead over Democratic candidate Tom Barrett but turnout will be key. | • The big political news of the day is in Wisconsin where Republican Scott Walker hopes to become the first governor in history to successfully fend off a recall election. The margins are expected to be razor-thin in the state where thousands turned out in record numbers last year to occupy the state capitol in protest of Walker's attack on collective bargaining rights. Polls show Walker with a slim lead over Democratic candidate Tom Barrett but turnout will be key. |
| It's Election Day in Wisconsin tomorrow, and I'm standing by Tom Barrett. He'd make an outstanding governor. -bo | It's Election Day in Wisconsin tomorrow, and I'm standing by Tom Barrett. He'd make an outstanding governor. -bo |
| • President Obama has stayed out of the battle in Wisconsin but yesterday he offered his support for Barnett via social media, tweeting: "It's Election Day in Wisconsin tomorrow, and I'm standing by Tom Barrett. He'd make an outstanding governor." | • President Obama has stayed out of the battle in Wisconsin but yesterday he offered his support for Barnett via social media, tweeting: "It's Election Day in Wisconsin tomorrow, and I'm standing by Tom Barrett. He'd make an outstanding governor." |
| • Former president Bill Clinton has made an overt attempt to quash rumors that he issued an off-message endorsement of Mitt Romney. Last week Clinton said the former governor had a "sterling business" career. Appearing with Obama at a fundraiser in Manhattan last night, Clinton clarified his position, saying Romney "would be in my opinion calamitous for our country and the world." Clinton made the comment at the home of a billionaire hedge fund executive, one of three fundraisers the current and former president attended in New York City last night. | • Former president Bill Clinton has made an overt attempt to quash rumors that he issued an off-message endorsement of Mitt Romney. Last week Clinton said the former governor had a "sterling business" career. Appearing with Obama at a fundraiser in Manhattan last night, Clinton clarified his position, saying Romney "would be in my opinion calamitous for our country and the world." Clinton made the comment at the home of a billionaire hedge fund executive, one of three fundraisers the current and former president attended in New York City last night. |
| • In an attempt to underscore their opinion that Romney would be a failure as president, the Obama campaign has spent $10m launching a new commercial that argues he had "one of the worst economic records in the country" as governor of Massachusetts. It's a line of attack the Obama team has been pushing heavily lately. The ad will run in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. | • In an attempt to underscore their opinion that Romney would be a failure as president, the Obama campaign has spent $10m launching a new commercial that argues he had "one of the worst economic records in the country" as governor of Massachusetts. It's a line of attack the Obama team has been pushing heavily lately. The ad will run in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. |