Inside Scoops from Battlefield Wisconsin

[Jackpine Radical]

Some quick notes as I take a break between phone banking & going back to hang out with Tom Barrett for a while:

Kathleen Vinehout (State Senator, Primary candidate for Governor & one of the Wisconsin 14) was at the Dem HQ in Chippewa Flls today, and had some very interesting inside information.

Kathleen, BTW, is obviously pouring her heart & soul into this campaign, trying to get her erstwhile opponent & everyone else on the Dem ticket elected. But back to those scoops:

First, she confirmed that the Marquette poll is BS. The oversampling accusation is correct. Current internal polling by the Barrett campaign indicates that Barrett is tied at 49-49. These are unbiased numbers upon which campaign decisions are made, will not be released to the public, & therefore can be assumed to be as accurate as possible.

Second, she said that although Obama is not on the scene, OFA is (very quietly) loaning out their infrastructure to the campaign effort. This is apparently very massive, and they ARE pouring funds into selected races. One of these is the 23d Senate District (Kristen Dexter). They just dumped in $200k to Kristen's campaign because internal polls show her gaining on Terry "Mouldy" Moulton. They are no doubt doing the same in other races. In fact, this OFA action is so quiet that Kathleen herself only found out by accident, when she noticed that a group had a Washington DC area code & pursued the inquiry.

That's all for now from the front. I'll write more when I get more information this evening from Tom.


Here's a pic of Kathleen I took at Bobfest a couple of weeks ago:

[trumad]

1. Kick

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Gracias.

[Fla Dem]

3. Thanks for the positive news...On Wisconsin!! n/t

[lamp_shade]

4. This is good stuff to hear. Thanks.

[Vidar]

5. Thanks for the positive update.

[snacker]

6. Thank you.

Like you, I have been busy canvassing and phone banking today. I'm home to take a quick break before going back out there. Kathleen Vinehout is one smart lady, and I trust her "take" on this recall election. Now....back to work on getting Barrett and Mitchell elected.

[rocktivity]

7. What kind of responses have you been getting from the phone banks?

Are people being hostile or cool?


rocktivity

[Jackpine Radical]

9. My list was one of presumed Dem voters. Only a couple expressly said they were against Barrett.

Some refused to identify their intentions.

None was actually hostile. This is Wisconsin, after all. People mostly don't do that (unless maybe they're FIB transplants).

[HangOnKids]

14. Go Badgers Go!

Unto the breach Wisconsin!

[davsand]

26. I just want to remind you not ALL of us are FIB!

Actually, I really wanted to give your good information a kick, but I figured I'd mess with you a tiny bit while I was at it...



Do you have a sense yet of how the rural areas are going? Has Walker managed to erode his rural support during his reign of terror?



Laura

[Jackpine Radical]

27. There are still a lot of Walker signs when you get into Appalachia North.

And damn depressing too, if only because of the degree to which it shows that we are surrounded by morans.

[davsand]

29. Oh man, I share your sadness!

I joke that Illinois is made up of islands of sanity surrounded by oceans of idiots. It sounds like Wisconsin is simlarly blessed.

I was travelling in Wisconsin last summer and I was surprised at how much of a topic Walker was then--it came up unprompted several different times. I had hope for you all and actually thought maybe Wisconsin would be an improvement over Illinois with our corruption and constant political wrangling. Good luck to you all. You really are fighting the good fight.



Laura

[southernyankeebelle]

8. Oh I pray the dems win all there is to win.

[SunSeeker]

10. I'll be lighting a candle too!

[southernyankeebelle]

16. Come tuesday lets all light a candle in the more and say a prayer.

[SunSeeker]

11. Thank you for your service, Jackpine Radical!

[Jackpine Radical]

15. I could easily name 100 people who have done more than me in the past 16 months or so.

Including a number of people who post regularly here like Archae, Scuba, PeaceNikki, and many more.

[SunSeeker]

19. Every effort helps and you all have my gratitude.

I may be in Cali, but I know what this fight in WI means to all of us. Next time you're in So Cal I'll buy you a beer.

[coalition_unwilling]

21. I'll buy you a shot to go with that beer - n/t

[PeaceNikki]

24. We couldn't do it without the help of EVERYONE!! There are a lot of awesome boots on the ground, JR.

Including you!!

[WillyT]

12. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[PufPuf23]

13. Thanks for positive news.

I have a special place in my heart for Michigan.

[flamingdem]

17. Thanks for the update!

It's great to hear from the frontlines, onward ho! (wagontrain slang)

[grantcart]

18. I assumed that the following was true

Second, she said that although Obama is not on the scene, OFA is (very quietly) loaning out their infrastructure to the campaign effort. This is apparently very massive, and they ARE pouring funds into selected races. One of these is the 23d Senate District (Kristen Dexter). They just dumped in $200k to Kristen's campaign because internal polls show her gaining on Terry "Mouldy" Moulton. They are no doubt doing the same in other races. In fact, this OFA action is so quiet that Kathleen herself only found out by accident, when she noticed that a group had a Washington DC area code & pursued the inquiry.


And the reason that it is being done is because polling showed that the side with no outside high profile help would get an advantage.

This isn't about getting headlines, its only about one thing. winning.

[Samantha]

20. I have thought from the beginning that Obama's failure to show up to campaign for Barrett

was based on the simple fact that as President, Obama has an Attorney General conducting an investigation into possible criminal activity performed by Barrett's opponent. Obama making a political campaign appearance would automatically lend a political smell to a future Walker prosecution that Republicans could rail against. It is better to try to avoid the appearance of impropriety as this investigation proceeds so it cannot be labeled as a political witch hunt. Just my two cents.

Sam

[Ken Burch]

30. That doesn't explain the DNC staying out of it, though.

They aren't synonymous with the administration.

[Samantha]

31. The DNC has given money, and is giving quiet support to getting out the vote in areas

where it is close.

Sam

[denvine]

22. Thanks for the post!

I, and I am sure many people are keeping a close eye on Wisconsin. I've been sending $ and positive thoughts to you guys on the front line. Thanks so much for your hard work. I'm hoping we and especially you have a reason to celebrate Tuesday night. Thanks again for the positive and informative update.

[PeaceNikki]

23. I loooooove Kathleen!!

Thanks for all of your hard work!! Off to do what I can on this BEAUTIFUL Wisconsin day!!

[Jackpine Radical]

25. I have no doubt that you are 'way ahead of me in the hard work department.

[barbtries]

28. thank you for sharing

and for all you do. go Wisconsin Democrats!!!!

[Zax2me]

32. Investigate voter fraud now.

This margin, even early, too wide, doesn't reflect polling as proven here.
She had INSIDE info that it was a tie heading into Tuesday.
Maybe she can spear-head an investigation.