Daily Recall Election Roundup: May 29
Here are the latest updates from the campaign trail in the June 5 Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election.
Photos
Videos
Every day between now and the June 5 gubernatorial recall election, Patch will provide daily updates on what's happening on the campaign trail.
Check back with this column throughout the day for the latest recall-related news.
3:45 p.m. GAB estimates 60 to 65 percent voter turnout on June 5
The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board is predicting between 60 and 65 percent of eligible voters will cast ballots in the June 5 recall election.
The press release sent out Tuesday afternoon says this would mean 2.6 million to 2.8 million people will vote.
“Wisconsin has never had a statewide recall election, which makes predicting turnout difficult,” said Kevin Kennedy, director and general counsel of the GAB. “We typically look at history for guidance in predicting turnout. We expect turnout for this election to be much higher than the 49.7 percent turnout in the 2010 General Election for Governor, but not as high as the 69.2 percent turnout in the 2008 General Election for President of the United States.”
Early voting is strong already, with the number of residents requesting absentee ballots continuing to climb. As of noon Tuesday more than 130,000 absentee ballots had been issued. Some clerk's offices are holding extended hours to accomodate early and absentee voting requests.
11:10 a.m.: Barrett calls on Walker to release emails associated with the John Doe investigation
Citing a Journal Sentinel investigative report about how the John Doe criminal corruption investigation may be looking at emails between Walker and one of his top aides, Barrett is again calling for the governor to release emails to the public.
In a press release, Barrett stated: "Today's report, called a potential bombshell, reveals that Gov. Walker may indeed be the target of the John Doe criminal corruption prode, and that his emails are at the center of the case. It is essential for Scott Walker to come clean with the people of Wisconsin, and show the public all of these emails. The people deserve to know the full truth about Walker's involvement in this investigation."
The emails Barrett is referring to were between Walker and aide John Hiller, about potential bid-rigging in a county real estate deal.
10:15 a.m.: New Walker ad blasts Barrett on crime stats
Gov. Scott Walker's campaign has just released a new ad that takes on his opponent, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, over the issue of misreporting of crime statistics in the city.
The ad is being released following an investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that showed that hundreds of assault cases were not being properly categorized as violent crimes.
“The widespread misreporting of violent crimes in Milwaukee is disturbing, and Mayor Barrett owes his constituents an explanation,” said Walker campaign spokeswoman Ciara Matthews in a statement. “Mayor Barrett has failed the people of Milwaukee yet again, and an independent investigation should begin immediately to determine just how these violent criminal acts were brushed under the rug for the sake of political gain.”
The ad includes a video clip of Barrett touting a 15 percent drop in the city's violent crime rate and follows that segment with:
But the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found that hundreds of beatings, stabbings, and child abuse cases were never even counted. Violent crime in Milwaukee is up, and Tom Barrett isn’t telling the truth.
8:55 a.m.: Barrett to campaign with Feingold
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett will hit the road with former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold in a series of campaign appearances at coffee shops throughout the state on Tuesday.
Feingold will make stops with the Milwaukee mayor in Baraboo, Wisconsin Rapids and Marshfield as part of the "Wisconsin First Tour." Barrett will then make a solo stop in Green Bay.
Barrett and Feingold will appear at 9:15 a.m. at the Coffee Bean Connection in Baraboo; 11:20 a.m. at From the Ground Up in Wisconsin Rapids; and at 2 p.m. at the Daily Grind in Marshfield. Barrett will then head to the Wisconsin First offices in Green Bay for a 4:50 p.m. appearance.
8:45 a.m.: Walker appearances focus on jobs
Job creation has become one of the central issues of the gubernatorial campaign and Republican Gov. Scott Walker will visit two Wisconsin businesses Tuesday to focus on that issues.
The first stop is set for 10 a.m. at HUSCO International in Waukesha, a company that manufacture of hydraulic and electrohydraulic controls for excavators, backoes and other equipment. During the campaign stop, Walker will highlight the company's continued growth.
At 2 p.m., the governor will be in northwestern Wisconsin for a groundbreaking and job announcement at Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. in Whitehall.
morninmist
9:16 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Ah---convenient audiences for the Gov today.
Malcolm M. Woods @malcolmmw
Fearful Walker keeping low profile, trying to run out the clock. Afraid of making any mistakes. http://politi.co/KY0h0O
Luvtoroam
10:07 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Fearful Barrett...3 time loser. Bummer for Milwaukee, he will remain the mayor. What is his stellar record in that city again?
Michael
10:41 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
How many attempts is Barrett going to make before he realizes he is a born loser?
Carol J. Grundy
10:42 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
I'm so thankful for our Govenor Scott Walker, an honest and courageous man.
Carol Grundy, Oak Creek Wisconsin
morninmist
10:48 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
@Carol
Maybe Faux "news" will find a few palm trees for you all?
JoJeanne B. Lown @JLownLaw
On Twitter, Koch Group Offers Illinois Residents Free Food, Trips To Wisconsin To Support Gov Scott Walker http://goo.gl/RacHJ #wirecall
11h polymath22 polymath22 @polymath22
#AFP sends bus loads of #activists from #Illinois during #WIrecall, going town-to-town #VoterID? #VoterFraud? #ElectionFraud? #WIunion #1u
12h DefeatVos DefeatVos @DefeatVos
RT @Wi_Fwd: Who's bringing in "out-of-state agitators" now @GovWalker? http://www.republicreport.org/2012/koch-scott-walker-il/ #wiunion #wirecall Plus, @AmyKremer's Tea Party
Michael
10:44 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
ScottWalkerRules, Ambassador.
Michael
10:44 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
President?
Alfred Kell
10:55 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Tom Barrett=Failing Mayor of a Failing City.
Nuitari
11:56 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
How come Barrett would rather munch on some brats rather than pay respect to our military?
Greg
12:09 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Are you saying that Barrett likes to swallow sausage? That may explain his comment in the debate about evolving on gay marriage.
James R Hoffa
12:10 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
I see that once again, Barrett is preying upon the low information voter. How on earth could Walker release emails that are allegedly being considered as evidence in the publicly closed John Doe investigation? Also, why is Barrett contributing to leaks in the procedures of the closed John Doe investigation by perpetuating information received by the J/S that is cited as being nothing more than mere speculation at this point?
What a very low tactic, showing a complete disregard for our system of law enforcement and criminal justice. Obviously, Barrett has a low opinion of those that would even consider voting for him, doesn't he? But then again, this is coming from a Mayor that doesn't call for an investigation into fudged crime statistics in his own city under his own watch. Par for the course, considering that he also didn't ask for an investigation into improper email usage in MPS after it was exposed that his own wife had engaged in forbidden political activity on the taxpayer's time and dime. Does anyone honestly think that only his wife was sending political emails on school time and using school resources? How many other MPS employees were doing that exact same thing? Thanks to Barrett, we'll never know.
James R Hoffa
12:10 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
When Walker began noticing that things weren't right in the County Executive's office, and once it became clear that the problem extended beyond being able to handle it internally, he went to the authorities and asked for this John Doe investigation that led to several of his own people being convicted. On the other hand, Barrett shields his people from and/or brushes it off as no big deal when they commit exactly similar offenses.
You be the judge as to who's taking the higher road here.
linda w
3:50 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
and in time walker will regret this maybe he does already because he is being investigated for bid rigging as well. they may even have come up with more stufff. walker and his goons think they are above the law and it will be the law that brings them and him down
Steve Ebbie
12:41 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
What is there not to like about that Walker fellow???
Well maybe...
John Doe probe. Surrounding himself with felons. Failure on job creation. Stating that he waited to drop the bomb on Wisconsinites. Tossed around the idea of planting thugs along with the peaceful protesters. Slashing 1 billion from education. Secret email accounts and routers while County Executive. Defense fund for lawyers (by Wisconsin law you can only have a defense fund if you have been charged or are under investigation). Gave donors kid an $81,500 dollar a year job. FBI raid involving Walker Campaign Records. Gave $200 million in new loopholes and tax breaks to big corporations and the rich. Lied about Capitol cleanup costs after protests. Signed a voter ID bill aimed at preventing the poor, elderly and students from voting. Admitted to Congress that gutting collective bargaining saves Wisconsin no money. Halted wind farm projects in Wisconsin and stated that renewable energy is “feel good technology”. Boasts to Wisconsinites that they balanced the budget while telling the feds that we have a deficit.
Fine upstanding representative of the values of all Wisconsinites.
If you stand with Walker, you will fall for anything.
Steve ®
2:28 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
No wonder you hate Walker, see Hoffa's explanation on low informed voters for further details. Let me know if the words are too big or hard to pronounce.
Steve Ebbie
6:52 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
I don't hate Walker. It is the agenda.
Lifelong Wisconsin resident.
Business owner/operator.
Low informed?
Words too big or hard to pronounce?
Don't confuse facts with ideology Steve.
Steve ®
3:50 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Facts are on my side. Must run a union shop that grabs government contracts
Business owner survey: ►91 percent said a reelection of Walker would have a positive impact on business, while only 7 percent of those polled found that a win by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett would have a positive impact.◄
morninmist
1:05 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
@Nuitari
How come you would rather make lying accusations than do some research?
http://www.facebook.com/TomMBarrett/posts/10150849991281860
https://twitter.com/Waksik/status/207525328619442176/photo/1
.......
Nuitari
11:56 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
How come Barrett would rather munch on some brats rather than pay respect to our military?
Nick Poulos
1:18 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
There is nothing to like about "that Walker fellow": even if corruption cannot be proven in a court of law, the tactics, the decision-making process, the lies told to voters, the bait-and-switch-policy tactics: Walker needs to go now. The issue isn't jobs or any of the other distracting issues put up by the media:
the issue is form of government. We thrive in this nation because it is a democratic republic. The pretend-Republicans, the Tea Party and their backers need to be stopped now. Vote for Barrett. To those of you who like attacking him because he lost a previous election, it took Bill Proxmire a couple of losses before he became Wisconsin's best.
Greg
1:39 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
As a lifelong Democrat, I like attacking Barrett because he is going to lose this election. He does not have a platform.
James R Hoffa
2:21 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
@Nick -
And "the Tea Party and their backers" don't believe in a democratic republic? Give up the quasi-intellectual bloviated nonsense already - you're nothing but a partisan hack falsely convinced of your own side's intellectual superiority.
Barrett will go down not because he lost before, but rather because he offers nothing other than higher taxes for all. The people have already spoken on that issue loud and clear in 2010 and it's about time you and the rest of your side start respecting the will of the people in this regard. The time of governmental effectiveness and efficiency is upon us whether you and your side like it or not.
Steve ®
2:31 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
►the bait-and-switch-policy tactics:◄
lol, you voted for Obama right?
Patriot
9:49 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
@Nick-Ya so we can become your homeland. Your ideology leads to Greece!! Come join us this Saturday June 5th 10am Gorney Park. See what a real grass roots gathering is all about!! No violence, no peeing in the park, no raping just real conservatives supporting fiscal responsibility not social darwanisim
Keith Best
1:46 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Barrett once attacked Collective Bargaining. Now even Graeme Zalinski the spokesman for the Democrats says it has become a non issue. The reforms are working.
Barrett went after a "war on women" but conservative women proved that was a non-isue.
Barrett went after job creation in WI. Seems like small and large businesses like what Walker has done and they will continue to create jobs under Walker, especially after this nonsense recall is over and Walker wins.
Barrett cannot tout his own record because it is one of failure.
linda w
3:53 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
POLITIFACT JUST PUT IT OUT THERE IN THE JOURNAL SENTINEL THAT WALKERS JOBS CREATION IS MOSTLY FALSE. WHICH WE ALREADY KNEW BUT THE WALKER LOVERS ARE RUNNING JUST AS SCARED AS WALKER AND THEY WILL DRINK ANYTHING WALKER GIVES THEM. LOOK AT THE DEBT THAT WALKER PUT MILWAUKEE IN FOR 8 YEARS. SOUNDS JUST LIKE BUSH
Greg
4:22 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
What did politifact say about Barrett's job numbers claims-------------Mostly False.
Greg
4:19 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett says the June 5 gubernatorial recall election will come down to the issue of jobs. "This state has lost more jobs than any other state in the country," the mayor told reporters this afternoon, citing an inaccurate and outdated report. The election is about having "a governor who's going to focus on creating jobs," he said. But in an interview with THE WEEKLY STANDARD Tuesday afternoon, Barrett was unable to name a single policy he'd pursue as governor in the next six months to create jobs.
Barrett said that, if elected, he will call a special session of the legislature, but that session will focus on restoring collective bargaining, not creating jobs. "Then again, [job creation] might be an area where we'll work with legislators and others, and clearly if there's good ideas, we'll implement them as soon as we can," Barrett added. But he had no specific job creation ideas of his own to offer.
Asked by a local reporter if he would keep any of Walker's policies in place, Barrett replied: "What I'm going to look at--I'm going to look at the basic right to organize. That's where I'm going to focus my energies--to restore the right to organize and the right to bargain."
For the article and interview go here: http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/barrett-cant-name-single-policy-hell-pursue-create-jobs-wisconsin_646261.html
Patriot
9:53 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Again just shows the big union bosses have a lot at stake here!! Has nothing to do with the well being of their fellow union minnions but rather that deduction from their paycheck nothing more
Todd Marohl
12:57 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
I like how Barrett has changed his message since the debate on Friday. Union boss'es must have gotten to him. Now he says his first priority is restoring collective bargaining. He doesn't have a a focus on job creation, just taxpayer extortion for his union buddies. Very sad if this empty suit who is running the most sleazy campaign in recent memory somehow manages to win this election.
datadawg
10:26 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Republicans are against unions for political reasons. It has nothing to do with balancing a budget or improving schools, and everyone knows it.
Steve ®
11:49 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Funny how cutting back on the public union balanced the budget and improved the schools.
morninmist
1:18 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
@Steve
Where is your evidence that the budget is balanced or that the schools are improved?
file:///C:/DOCUME~1/Owner/LOCALS~1/Temp/0525vinehout-1.pdf
And:
Walker is not the target (so he claims)!
The Kap'n @kap_n
Hey walker fans, using your $ on himself @GovWalker transferred next $100,000 to criminal fund http://bit.ly/KEZteq #wirecall
James R Hoffa
2:56 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
@morninmist -
The budget is balanced according to the cash accounting method, with a projected $150M surplus! BTW - all previous governors, including Doyle, used the cash accounting method to balance their budgets as well, however, only ever experienced deficits and never a surplus. A Walker victory in every sense! If you pay taxes, you should be celebrating this, not frowning upon it and trying to recall him - what's the matter with you?
As to school improvement, didn't the survey data that WEAC scrubbed from their website essentially prove that school performance had improved year-over-year under Walker's reforms? If you're honest, then you have to admit the reality of such situation, otherwise, why did WEAC try to hide and play down such data?
Then again, we never count on you being honest with us here on the Patch, just as we never expect you to have an original thought or analysis of your own. So please, just continue on with the perpetuation of the party line propaganda, rhetoric, and talking points, as it's all you apparently know and are good at. You're the truest definition of the lemming mentality that Hoffa's ever seen - that much is for certain!
Patriot
4:55 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Latest Marquette pole Walker is up by 7!!!