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Republican Governor Walker survives Wisconsin recall Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker survives recall
(40 minutes later)
The Republican governor of the US state of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, has defied an attempt to vote him out of office. The US state of Wisconsin's Republican governor has survived an attempt to oust him from office in a recall vote, only the third such vote in US history.
With most of the votes counted in the recall election, he has 54% compared to 45% for Democratic challenger Tom Barrett, who has now admitted defeat. Scott Walker won 53% of the ballot in an election engineered by opponents of his plan to limited workers' collective bargaining rights in the state.
The rare recall poll in the mid-western state was forced by opponents of a law passed by Mr Walker that limited workers' collective bargaining rights. More than 900,000 called for the vote after angry protests over the reforms.
The poll is seen as a key test ahead of November's presidential elections. Republicans have suggested the result may carry significance ahead of November's presidential election.
Politicians are watching closely for signs that a state that backed President Barack Obama in the last presidential election in 2008 may be tipping more towards Republicans, the BBC's Jonny Dymond in Washington says. The state has backed the Democrats in every election since 1988.
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who will be challenging President Barack Obama, was quick to congratulate Mr Walker. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who will be challenging President Barack Obama, was quick to congratulate Mr Walker.
"Tonight's results will echo beyond the borders of Wisconsin. Governor Walker has shown that citizens and taxpayers can fight back - and prevail - against the runaway government costs imposed by labour bosses," Mr Romney said."Tonight's results will echo beyond the borders of Wisconsin. Governor Walker has shown that citizens and taxpayers can fight back - and prevail - against the runaway government costs imposed by labour bosses," Mr Romney said.
There should be a good-sized health warning over the result of Wisconsin's bitterly contested recall election. The lopsided campaign spending - 7-to-1 in favour of the Republicans - was peculiar to this race. The passion was peculiar to the politics that Scott Walker introduced in 2010.There should be a good-sized health warning over the result of Wisconsin's bitterly contested recall election. The lopsided campaign spending - 7-to-1 in favour of the Republicans - was peculiar to this race. The passion was peculiar to the politics that Scott Walker introduced in 2010.
But Republicans will be delighted by the result and Democrats will be downcast. Wisconsin has been Democratic territory since Ronald Reagan left office. Now it cannot be taken for granted by the Obama campaign. Momentum is important in politics, and Wisconsin's Republican have the wind in their sails.But Republicans will be delighted by the result and Democrats will be downcast. Wisconsin has been Democratic territory since Ronald Reagan left office. Now it cannot be taken for granted by the Obama campaign. Momentum is important in politics, and Wisconsin's Republican have the wind in their sails.
And remember what started all of this? Scott Walker trod where few others were prepared to go - attacking public sector unions and forcing public sector employees to yield up what looked to many to be very comfortable healthcare and pension deals.And remember what started all of this? Scott Walker trod where few others were prepared to go - attacking public sector unions and forcing public sector employees to yield up what looked to many to be very comfortable healthcare and pension deals.
The recall election was a shot not just across Scott Walker's bows but also those of like-minded Republican governors. It missed, and the US labour movement must wonder what comes next.The recall election was a shot not just across Scott Walker's bows but also those of like-minded Republican governors. It missed, and the US labour movement must wonder what comes next.
However, recall elections are not the same as presidential contests, and the arguments in Wisconsin were peculiar to the state, our correspondent says. However, the BBC's Jonny Dymond in Washington says recall elections are not the same as presidential contests, and the arguments in Wisconsin are peculiar to the state.
Key swing state 'Shared sacrifice'
Voter turnout in Tuesday's election was high, correspondents say. With almost all of the votes counted, Mr Walker had more than 53%.
Roberta Komor of Wauwatosa told Reuters that she had voted for Mr Barrett when he ran in 2010, but switched her vote this time, saying unions "need to learn about shared sacrifice". "Tonight, we tell Wisconsin, we tell our country and we tell people all across the globe that voters really do want leaders who stand up and make the tough decisions," he told supporters in his victory speech.
Andrew Karls, a Barrett supporter, said he did not expect the Milwaukee mayor to win, but believes enough of the recalled senators will lose, flipping control of the Wisconsin Senate to Democrats. His Democrat challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, was trailing with just over 46% and had admitted defeat.
Mr Walker's lieutenant governor, Rebecca Kleefisch, and three Republican state senators also won recall votes on Tuesday. Voter turnout in Tuesday's election was high.
One voter, Roberta Komor of Wauwatosa, told Reuters that she had voted for Mr Barrett when he ran in 2010, but switched her vote this time, saying unions "need to learn about shared sacrifice".
Mr Walker is only the third governor in US history to face a recall vote and the first to win.Mr Walker is only the third governor in US history to face a recall vote and the first to win.
His reform of the public sector - forcing employees to contribute more towards healthcare and pensions and stripping public sector unions of collective bargaining rights - set off a weeks of angry protests.His reform of the public sector - forcing employees to contribute more towards healthcare and pensions and stripping public sector unions of collective bargaining rights - set off a weeks of angry protests.
But he was aided by huge sums from big business and strong organisation on the ground, our correspondent says.But he was aided by huge sums from big business and strong organisation on the ground, our correspondent says.
The fight in Wisconsin reflects the broader national conversation over budgets and the sluggish economic recovery.The fight in Wisconsin reflects the broader national conversation over budgets and the sluggish economic recovery.
Wisconsin is seen as one of a handful of swing states that could be especially important in determining the outcome of the presidential election.Wisconsin is seen as one of a handful of swing states that could be especially important in determining the outcome of the presidential election.
The state has voted Democratic in the last six presidential elections, and in 2008 Barack Obama carried Wisconsin with a 14% margin - a big swing. The state has voted Democratic in the last six presidential elections, and in 2008 Barack Obama carried Wisconsin with a 14% margin.
At the very least, Mr Obama can no longer take it for granted as he might have done before Tuesday's vote, our correspondent says.At the very least, Mr Obama can no longer take it for granted as he might have done before Tuesday's vote, our correspondent says.