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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s tough fight against Mary Burke will decide 2016 future Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s tough fight against Mary Burke will decide 2016 future
(35 minutes later)
MADISON, Wis. — The group of female University of Wisconsin students pulled out their smartphones the minute they saw Gov. Scott Walker coming, corralling the Republican into a round of selfies. Wearing a stiff smile and a Green Bay Packers jersey bearing his name, Walker reluctantly obliged.MADISON, Wis. — The group of female University of Wisconsin students pulled out their smartphones the minute they saw Gov. Scott Walker coming, corralling the Republican into a round of selfies. Wearing a stiff smile and a Green Bay Packers jersey bearing his name, Walker reluctantly obliged.
But then it was back to the grimmer work of campaigning. In his third election in four years, Walker is far more worried than he was in previous contests — less confident that he can fend off a challenge from Democrat Mary Burke, who is running a close race by targeting slow job growth during Walker’s tenure. Both his gubernatorial record and his potential 2016 presidential aspirations are on the line. But then it was back to the grimmer work of campaigning. In his third election in four years, Walker is far more worried than he was in previous contests — less confident that he can fend off a challenge from Democrat Mary Burke, who is running a competitive race by targeting slow job growth during Walker’s tenure. Both his gubernatorial record and his potential 2016 presidential aspirations are on the line.
“Rallies and tailgates are wonderful, but in the end, we need people on the doors,” Walker said Sunday as he spoke to dozens of Republicans gathered around him in a circle during a Packers game-watch party here. “I need you to reach out to people you have never talked to about politics before, that’s how close this election is.”“Rallies and tailgates are wonderful, but in the end, we need people on the doors,” Walker said Sunday as he spoke to dozens of Republicans gathered around him in a circle during a Packers game-watch party here. “I need you to reach out to people you have never talked to about politics before, that’s how close this election is.”
Among the class of 2016 GOP hopefuls, Walker is the lone early contender who faces such a critical test on Nov. 4. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Florida governor Jeb Bush are not on the ballot, nor is Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) or Gov. Bobby Jindal (La.). Rep. Paul Ryan (Wis.) — a key Walker ally — will be easily reelected to the House.Among the class of 2016 GOP hopefuls, Walker is the lone early contender who faces such a critical test on Nov. 4. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Florida governor Jeb Bush are not on the ballot, nor is Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) or Gov. Bobby Jindal (La.). Rep. Paul Ryan (Wis.) — a key Walker ally — will be easily reelected to the House.
Survival would leave Walker poised to ascend to the top tier of the presidential sweepstakes early next year, touting victories in two general elections and in an unsuccessful recall attempt in 2012 over his reductions in bargaining rights for most public workers.Survival would leave Walker poised to ascend to the top tier of the presidential sweepstakes early next year, touting victories in two general elections and in an unsuccessful recall attempt in 2012 over his reductions in bargaining rights for most public workers.
But first Walker, 46, has to get past Burke, 55, who has remained strong in polling despite a brief uproar over a partially plagiarized jobs proposal attributed to a consultant. But first Walker, 46, has to get past Burke, 55, who has remained strong in polling despite a brief uproar over a partially plagiarized jobs proposal put together by a consultant.
A Marquette Law School survey released last week showed 47 percent of likely voters supporting each candidate, erasing a 5-point Walker lead in the previous Marquette poll. Independents in particular appear to be breaking toward Burke. A New York Times-CBS News poll from last month showed a similarly tight margin.A Marquette Law School survey released last week showed 47 percent of likely voters supporting each candidate, erasing a 5-point Walker lead in the previous Marquette poll. Independents in particular appear to be breaking toward Burke. A New York Times-CBS News poll from last month showed a similarly tight margin.
Burke has risen due to Wisconsin’s fluid, purple-state politics and on the strength of her noncontroversial biography — a former Trek Bicycle executive and former state commerce secretary. Her Web site and ads highlight her “problem-solving” skills, largely avoiding the progressive political tradition of a state that has produced “Fighting Bob” La Follette, Russ Feingold and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D).Burke has risen due to Wisconsin’s fluid, purple-state politics and on the strength of her noncontroversial biography — a former Trek Bicycle executive and former state commerce secretary. Her Web site and ads highlight her “problem-solving” skills, largely avoiding the progressive political tradition of a state that has produced “Fighting Bob” La Follette, Russ Feingold and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D).
The approach is markedly different from the labor-heavy campaigns of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Walker’s failed Democrat opponent in 2010 and 2012. Burke’s chief surrogates are not national union leaders but the Obamas, including first lady Michelle Obama, who has been to Wisconsin twice to campaign with her.The approach is markedly different from the labor-heavy campaigns of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Walker’s failed Democrat opponent in 2010 and 2012. Burke’s chief surrogates are not national union leaders but the Obamas, including first lady Michelle Obama, who has been to Wisconsin twice to campaign with her.
President Obama, eager to pick off star GOP governors in an otherwise difficult year, plans to boost Burke with a visit to Milwaukee in the final days of the campaign. Former president Bill Clinton will also appear Friday with Burke. Both men won Wisconsin twice in their presidential campaigns. President Obama, eager to pick off star GOP governors in an otherwise difficult year, plans to boost Burke with a visit to Milwaukee in the final days. Former president Bill Clinton will appear Friday with Burke. Both men won Wisconsin twice in their presidential campaigns.
On the GOP side, Walker said Christie has offered to come aboard Walker’s campaign bus before voters head to the polls, as have Ryan and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R).On the GOP side, Walker said Christie has offered to come aboard Walker’s campaign bus before voters head to the polls, as have Ryan and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R).
“Don’t take this wrong, but because I’m not a challenger, I don’t really need surrogates,” Walker said in an interview Sunday at a Madison field office. “My problem isn’t name-ID or drawing crowds. I need to simply get out there and talk to voters. By and large, this is about me.”“Don’t take this wrong, but because I’m not a challenger, I don’t really need surrogates,” Walker said in an interview Sunday at a Madison field office. “My problem isn’t name-ID or drawing crowds. I need to simply get out there and talk to voters. By and large, this is about me.”
Walker also said he might require an infusion of cash from the Republican Governors Association — chaired by potential 2016 rival Christie — in order to stay competitive. So far, the RGA has spent $6 million in the state. Still, Walker said he might require an infusion of cash from the Republican Governors Association — chaired by potential 2016 rival Christie — in order to stay in contention. So far, the RGA has spent $6 million in the state.
“Hopefully that comes through,” Walker said. “We are always looking for more help. Our main help has to be the RGA.”“Hopefully that comes through,” Walker said. “We are always looking for more help. Our main help has to be the RGA.”
Walker has expressed frustration at Burke’s profile as a pragmatic centrist. His advertising portrays her as a firebrand from Madison, a liberal college town where she serves on the school board.Walker has expressed frustration at Burke’s profile as a pragmatic centrist. His advertising portrays her as a firebrand from Madison, a liberal college town where she serves on the school board.
“Only in Madison is someone who’s not the furthest left on the school board considered a moderate,” Walker said. “The bigger challenge to us is that the in-state media buys into that. When she says she’s socially liberal and fiscally conservative, they print it.”“Only in Madison is someone who’s not the furthest left on the school board considered a moderate,” Walker said. “The bigger challenge to us is that the in-state media buys into that. When she says she’s socially liberal and fiscally conservative, they print it.”
Burke, in an interview Sunday at her headquarters in Madison, said she “expected from the start” a state that backed Obama could be nudged against Walker with an intense focus on economic concerns. Burke, in an interview Sunday at her headquarters in Madison, said she expected from the outset that a state that backed Obama could be nudged against Walker by spotlighting economic concerns.
Burke said she has deliberately avoided relitigating Walker’s efforts against public-sector unions. “It’s not what people are concerned about,” she said.Burke said she has deliberately avoided relitigating Walker’s efforts against public-sector unions. “It’s not what people are concerned about,” she said.
Social issues are one area where Burke’s team wishes it were doing better. They have tried to tag Walker, the son of a Baptist minister who opposes abortion and holds other socially conservative views, as an extremist. But he has avoided getting dragged into drawn-out debates on moral questions by NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood, both of which are aligned against him. Social issues are one area where Burke’s team wishes it were doing better. They have tried to tag Walker, the son of a Baptist minister who opposes abortion and holds other socially conservative views, as an extremist. But he has avoided getting dragged into drawn-out debates on moral questions by NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood, both of which are against him.
When asked what Walker is doing to reach out to female voters, his Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch joked, “You see I’m a woman, right? And I’m on the ticket.” She also said Republicans are a better fit for the “people who are making household decisions.”When asked what Walker is doing to reach out to female voters, his Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch joked, “You see I’m a woman, right? And I’m on the ticket.” She also said Republicans are a better fit for the “people who are making household decisions.”
The campaign has included relatively little discussion of an investigation by state prosecutors into whether Walker illegally coordinated with right-wing groups by encouraging donations to a private organization. The case is stalled in the courts, posing more of a threat to an eventual presidential run than Walker’s reelection.The campaign has included relatively little discussion of an investigation by state prosecutors into whether Walker illegally coordinated with right-wing groups by encouraging donations to a private organization. The case is stalled in the courts, posing more of a threat to an eventual presidential run than Walker’s reelection.
Instead, most of the sparring in the race has focused on Walker’s 2010 promise to create 250,000 new jobs in his first term — a target he missed by nearly 150,000 jobs. Instead, most of the sparring in the race has focused on Walker’s 2010 pledge to create 250,000 new jobs in his first term — a target he missed by nearly 150,000 jobs.
In the first debate of the campaign, the tussle over jobs number was the only real drama of the evening. “We don’t have a jobs problem in this state. We have a work problem,” Walker said — a comment that Burke seized upon as evidence of the governor’s disconnect.In the first debate of the campaign, the tussle over jobs number was the only real drama of the evening. “We don’t have a jobs problem in this state. We have a work problem,” Walker said — a comment that Burke seized upon as evidence of the governor’s disconnect.
Walker’s campaign blames slow job growth in part on former governor Jim Doyle (D) and has sought to emphasize Burke’s time as a member of Doyle’s Cabinet. Walker’s campaign blames the jobs deficit in part on former governor Jim Doyle (D) and has sought to emphasize Burke’s time as a member of Doyle’s Cabinet. At events over the weekend, he played up new figures from the state showing Wisconsin adding 8,400 private sector jobs in September.
Burke argues that Walker has failed to deliver on his promise and cites declining income levels for many as evidence that people are still hurting. Burke argues that Walker has failed to keep his word on jobs and cites declining income levels for many to illustrate how people are hurting.
Pat Manriquez, 52, could be one case in point. Laid off as a flight attendant for Midwest Airlines after 22 years, she now works for much less as a barista at Bella Caffe Coffee House in Milwaukee.Pat Manriquez, 52, could be one case in point. Laid off as a flight attendant for Midwest Airlines after 22 years, she now works for much less as a barista at Bella Caffe Coffee House in Milwaukee.
As she made cappuccinos last Saturday, Manriquez said the last few years were exhausting, both personally and politically.As she made cappuccinos last Saturday, Manriquez said the last few years were exhausting, both personally and politically.
“I’m tired of Scott Walker,” she said. “My sister got laid off the same month as I did in 2009 and she’s working at Walmart. It’s been tough, and I just don’t buy that it’s all going great.”“I’m tired of Scott Walker,” she said. “My sister got laid off the same month as I did in 2009 and she’s working at Walmart. It’s been tough, and I just don’t buy that it’s all going great.”
For Mary Burke, that’s a start.For Mary Burke, that’s a start.