Barrett will run in recall election

[hue]

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/145224895.html

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The state Republican party says it plans to run fake Democrats in four upcoming recall elections targeting GOP state senators.
Party spokesman Stephan Thompson says the move guarantees that a Democratic primary has to be held. He says that ensures one clear date for the primary and a separate one for the general election, thereby limiting any scheduling control for Democrats.
Republicans used the same tactic last year in recall elections targeting six other GOP state senators. The move gave the incumbents more time to campaign and raise money.
If there are indeed primaries in each of the upcoming races, they'll be held May 8, with the general elections on June 5.

[elfin]

1. Good

I think he has the best chance of wiping the Snott off the governor's post.

[postulater]

2. Interesting that Feingold just endorsed Falk today.

It could get messy.

[midnight]

6. I just saw this after posting below... O boy. I think the world of Feingold..

[HereSince1628]

3. The democrat who wins the primary gets my vote,

even if it is Barrett.

[yourout]

4. I want who ever gives us the best chance to kick Snotty Scotty to the curb.

While he isn't perfect I think Barret might be that guy/gal.

[midnight]

5. It will be sad to lose this great mayor for Milwaukee, but I think the Gov.'s office has his name on

It. I wonder if Kathleen would consider being his Lt. Gov.?

[undeterred]

7. Bad idea. Walker beat Barrett.

I am afraid Walker will beat him again.

Feingold rarely endorses anyone before a primary is over.

[Homer12]

8. Barret has a better chance at supposed indipendents

Because he does not Garner union support.

But then again, he will not garner union money or support either.

[Lefta Dissenter]

10. whoever the Dem is

will get the Union support and money after the primary.

I just wish they had stayed out of it and focused on Walker until then.

[Big Tent]

9. It will be close

I am happy that Democrats have a full field of candidates running. Right now it looks like Kathleen Falk and Tom Barrett have emerged as the two front runners that have a chance to win the nomination. Barrett has a better chance to win over independents based on his past experience in Congress, the state legislature, and recently as Mayor of Milwaukee.

I do worry about the low income democratic voters turning out for the Recall election. The boomer Democrats will turn out but we have to remember that the students will no longer be on campus by the time of the general election. The electorate is going to look a lot like the Kloppenburg vs Prosser supreme court electorate although a slightly higher turnout.

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

11. Frontrunners? it just means they have the most money. Silly me - I had hoped that THIS TIME could

be different - I imagined a lively primary where we would openly debate the fine points (I for one agree w Vinehout why attaching legislation to a budget is not a good idea). Then we would have our say (one person, one vote) and emerge from the primary ready to take on Walker.

I think we relinquished our power too soon - let the professional Dems take over. United Wis decided they/we wouldnt get involved in selecting the nominee. That's understandable, but I think they/we still could have had (could maybe still have?) a big say re: PROCESS and principles, and platform.

Re reading this it sounds like a post mortem - well, perhaps it is. WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN. Sure, Ill vote - but not without some regret

I am still p***ed at Cullen - he early on recognized the big money angle and instead of LEADING US and creatively running an alternative campaign, he just bailed out.

[Big Tent]

12. Front-Runners

Yes Barrett and Falk are the democratic front-runners. If you look at the recent Marquette Law poll it shows Barrett at 36%, Falk at 29%, La Follette at 8%, and Vinehout at 8%, undecided 17%. [link:https://law.marquette.edu/poll/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/MLSP_Toplines1.pdf|

As far as money getting raised, if La Follette and Vinehout looked more viable to win the nomination, they would raise more money. If you look at it though, Barrett recently entered and is already in the lead, before money would have affected him one way or another. Falk has already been running a full fledged media campaign for almost a month, plus Falk has almost every democratic leaning interest group in the state backing her.

Outside groups are already on television today bashing Barrett because he is viewed as a front-runner. Barrett has a great opportunity to win this election despite help from either liberal or conservative interest groups. With Falk having so many endorsements I do not see how the democratic primary does not come down to Barrett and Falk as the front-runners.

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

13. re: polls - yes, and why is that?

its somewhat a chicken and egg kind of thing - which comes first the money or the name recognition brought about by media exposure. Example: I remember how very early on before all Dems had declared, Hillary Clinton was declared "front runner" on the basis of PROJECTIONS that she would amass more money than anyone. I remember how news reports inevitably left out Dennis Kucinich when reporting on debates that he participated in. And did quite well in, I might add. And then surprise surprise - he didnt get as many votes as the others.

Let me rephrase my thoughts a bit - measured by politics as usual and the rules of that game - KB & TB are front runners, but measured by "what might have been," a truly democratic process untainted by special interest-big money - its a disappointing outcome. Since Walker's recallable offense is largely that he obeyed the will of his billionaire funders, instead of the people of Wisconsin - it would have played well for us to change the rules of the game - ala early Feingold.

I think there are times when process is as important if not more so than outcome - this is one of those times.