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Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker wins recall Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker wins recall
(40 minutes later)
The Republican governor of the US state of Wisconsin has survived an attempt to oust him from office in a recall vote, only the third such vote in US history.The Republican governor of the US state of Wisconsin has survived an attempt to oust him from office in a recall vote, only the third such vote in US history.
Scott Walker won 53% in an election engineered by opponents of his law limiting the collective bargaining rights of most public sector unions.Scott Walker won 53% in an election engineered by opponents of his law limiting the collective bargaining rights of most public sector unions.
More than 900,000 called for the vote after angry protests over the reforms.More than 900,000 called for the vote after angry protests over the reforms.
Republicans said the vote would boost their prospects in Wisconsin in November's presidential election.Republicans said the vote would boost their prospects in Wisconsin in November's presidential election.
The state has backed the Democrats in every presidential election since 1988.The state has backed the Democrats in every presidential election since 1988.
Republican presidential candidate 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.

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The fight was about something real and substantial - the role and power of unions -which could be a big issue in the presidential campaign”
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"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.
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.
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 White House, though, insisted that the result was not a harbinger of tough times for the president.The White House, though, insisted that the result was not a harbinger of tough times for the president.
"What you had was an incumbent governor in a repeat election that he had won once, in which he outspent his challenger by a magnitude of seven or eight to one with an enormous amount of outside corporate money and huge donations," White House spokesman Jay Carney said."What you had was an incumbent governor in a repeat election that he had won once, in which he outspent his challenger by a magnitude of seven or eight to one with an enormous amount of outside corporate money and huge donations," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
"I certainly wouldn't read much into yesterday's result beyond who is occupying the governor's seat in Wisconsin.""I certainly wouldn't read much into yesterday's result beyond who is occupying the governor's seat in Wisconsin."
'Shared sacrifice''Shared sacrifice'
With almost all of the votes counted, Mr Walker had more than 53%. The href="http://www.wisconsinvote.org/" >final vote count showed Mr Walker had more than 53%, and Mr Barrett had 46%.
"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."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.
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.
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.
His Democrat challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, was trailing with just over 46% and had admitted defeat.His Democrat challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, was trailing with just over 46% and had admitted defeat.
Voter turnout in Tuesday's election was high.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".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.
But Mr Walker's campaign was aided by huge sums from big business and strong organisation on the ground, our correspondent says.But Mr Walker's campaign was aided by huge sums from big business and strong organisation on the ground, our correspondent says.
His plan to close a state budget deficit of $3.6bn (£2.3bn), partly through public sector reforms, set off weeks of angry protests.His plan to close a state budget deficit of $3.6bn (£2.3bn), partly through public sector reforms, set off weeks of angry protests.
The law eventually passed forced employees to contribute more towards healthcare and pensions and stripping public sector unions of collective bargaining rights.The law eventually passed forced employees to contribute more towards healthcare and pensions and stripping public sector unions of collective bargaining rights.
The Wisconsin Department of Administration has estimated that the state will have a budget surplus by 30 June 2013, ABC News reported.The Wisconsin Department of Administration has estimated that the state will have a budget surplus by 30 June 2013, ABC News reported.
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.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.