How Scott Walker won the Wisconsin recall election

(CBS News) Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker retained his seat in the election that sought to recall him from office, defeating his challenger Tom Barrett in this election (as he did in the 2010 governor's race). Walker won with strong support from Republicans, conservatives, Tea Party supporters and a majority of votes from independents.

Walker is the first governor in U.S. history to survive a recall election. Gov. Gray Davis of California was recalled in 2003, and in 1921, North Dakota's Governor Lynn Frazier of was ousted due to a recall.

The heated recall race began amid the controversy created when Walker released a state budget proposal that included limiting the collective bargaining rights for public union workers. In response, large demonstrations protesting Walker's plan took place at the state capital building which eventually led to a recall effort. Voters who turned out for this election narrowly supported Walker's handling of the collective bargaining issue: 52 percent approved, and 47 percent disapproved.

Scott Walker wins Wisconsin recall election

Voters were similarly divided when asked about the state law that limited the collective bargaining rights of government workers: 52 percent approved, and 47 percent disapproved.

As expected, those voters who approved of Walker's policies voted overwhelmingly for the governor. Opponents of his policies backed Barrett, the Democrat.

Wisconsin voters were also split in their views of unions for government workers. According to exit polls, 51 percent said they viewed these unions favorably; slightly fewer - 45 percent - held unfavorable opinions.

Walker promised to create 250,000 private-sector jobs in Wisconsin by 2015. According to an April analysis by Politifact, 5,900 jobs have been created since Walker took office. Still, 54 percent of those who voted in the recall election approved of how Walker has handled job creation, while 45 percent disapproved.

Wisconsin voters had strong opinions on the merit of recall elections. Sixty percent told exit pollsters that recall elections are only appropriate when there has been official misconduct, and another 10 percent think such elections are never appropriate. Just 27 percent of Wisconsin voters supported holding recall elections for any reason.

Minds were made up about this race long ago. Remarkably, just 8 percent of Wisconsin voters decided on their candidate in the last few days; more than nine in 10 made up their minds before that.

Can Romney capitalize on Scott Walker's win?

Looking Ahead to November

Both presidential candidates will be targeting the battleground state of Wisconsin this year. Among Wisconsin voters who went to the polls in the recall election, 51 percent said if the presidential election were held today they would vote for President Obama, while 44 percent would back Republican Mitt Romney. Still, with five months to go until the presidential election, it's hard to say what the November electorate in Wisconsin will look like this far out. Mr. Obama beat John McCain by 14 points in Wisconsin in 2008.

At this point, nearly all Barrett voters (92 percent) would support President Obama in the fall, while fewer - 76 percent- of Walker voters plan to back the Republican, Mitt Romney. Seventeen percent of Walker's supporters said if the presidential election were held today they would vote for President Obama.

Voters in Wisconsin also give President Obama the edge on improving the economy -- 42 percent said he would do a better job on that issue, compared to 38 percent who picked Romney. By a wider margin, voters said the president would do a better job helping the middle class (46 percent), while fewer (37 percent) gave Romney the upper hand on that.

The economy will surely be on the minds of Wisconsin voters come November. Thirty-six percent of voters in the recall election said their family's financial situation is worse compared to two years ago - nearly twice as many as said better. Forty-four percent said their family finances are the same.

Demographic Groups

Both candidates received support from similar types of voters as they did in 2010, when they first ran against each other. Women and lower income voters supported Barrett, while men and those with higher incomes voted for Walker.

Votes also fell along partisan lines: 94 percent of Republicans backed Walker, as did 86 percent of conservatives. Barrett received similarly strong support from Democrats (91 percent) and liberals (86 percent).

But independents gave an edge to Walker, giving him 54 percent of their votes compared to 45 percent for Barrett. That is similar to 2010, when Walker received the votes of 56 percent of independents, and Barrett 42 percent.

Thirty-six percent of voters said they are supporters of the Tea Party movement; and 93 percent of them also cast their ballot for Walker.

Turnout was up among one group of voters. Households with a union member comprised 33 percent of voters - up from 2010 and 2008, when 26 percent of voters said there was a union member in their household. Majorities of voters living in a union household (62 percent), and most union members themselves (71 percent), voted for Barrett.

Barrett also took most of the moderate vote: 44 percent of Wisconsin's voters described themselves as moderate, and Barrett received 54 percent of their support.

Both candidates retained most of their support from the 2010 governor's race. Ninety-four percent of those who said they voted for Barrett in 2010 voted for him again this year, and 94 percent of those who said they supported Walker two years ago voted for him this year as well.

Barrett's support was as much an anti-Walker vote it was a vote for Barrett himself. Fifty percent of Barrett's voters said they were voting for Barrett, but another 47 percent characterized their vote as against his opponent Scott Walker.

Among Walker's backers, 88 percent said they were voting for their candidate, not against his opponent.

[cntrygirl3]

How Mr. Walker won the election? $30 million most from out of state. That buys a lot of air time to repeat lies until they become truth.

[TimeToEvolve]

Sorry to bother you right wing wackos with the facts:

The share of income in this country for the middle class has gone down almost exactly as the decline in union membership has.

Why on earth are the right wing wackos backing the rich, lazy, greedy Top 1%. Is it something to do with their religion? Or maybe their firm father figure mentality.

[hillzhavays]

The top 1% is moving their money offshore because they're sick of paying for good-for-nothing, lazy, ungrateful sops like you, time. Thanks a lot.

[Tobi86]

Walker didn't win the election. The KOCH brothers bought it for Walker. I guess the brothers have some liking for Wisconsin cheese, or perhaps Charles likes the Green Bay Packer cheerleaders. We in Kansas can't figure out why the bros have so much $$$ love for Wisconsin. Could it be deregulation, union abolishment, whatever. I feel bad because I don't know any State I am that much in $$$ love with. Wouldn't you think the people of Wisconsin would be curious why Charles & David are adopting them. Now that Koch bought Wisconsin, all Wisconsiners can say they are a KOCH.

[TimeToEvolve]

The share of income in this country for the middle class has gone down almost exactly as the decline in union membership has. Unions represent ALL workers, unions or not. The anti-worker, self-hating right wingers are living their wet dream now.

[irreverentasever]

Now is the time for other states and communities outside of Wisconsin to advertise in Wisconsin to encourage retirees, teachers, doctors, academics, and skilled workers to move to greener pastures. There are many citizens that are currently thinking about or ready to relocate. Walker is more than happy to try and lure companies away from other states so why not try to lure the people away that buy the goods?

[TimeToEvolve]

Excellent idea. We the 99% run the economy and the 1% needs our labor, our money and our consent.

[marychgo]

Anyone with a net worth below $5 million who supports Walker and Romney and the rest of the GOP free-market fundamentalism fanatics is either profoundly self-destructive or unutterably dim.

The 1% has been waging class warfare for decades and, as Warren Buffett famously remarked, "my class won." But the intensity of this warfare is increasing. Walker's union-busting is symptomatic, and no middle-class American is safe from Walker's allies.

Look again at the story's list of Walker's funders: the Koch brothers, Adelson, Fliess, etc., etc. These maniacs really believe they're a superior race. They think they've achieved their wealth because of their own brilliance, not because they were lucky enough to live in a society that enabled their success. They truly resent every penny the federal, state, or local government extracts from them in taxes to help out anyone who isn't as brilliant as they are. They're delighted to buy candidates willing to serve their needs, because they want to take us back to the 1890s: no income tax, no regulations, no "entitlements," the "free market" rules all.

If you think you can do well in that world, good luck. For most Americans, it will mean selling apples or pencils on the corner....

[auroranorth]

Walker won because Barret is a nut case

[esq777]

Walker is nothing but a Koch brothers puppet, serving their agenda of taking as much money from the middle class as possible to further enrich themselves and their super rich buddies like Willard Romney. That being said, I don't think he should have been recalled. Recalls should be reserved from criminal behavior and Walker hasn't been indicted, at least not yet. If you don't like the guy you get rid of him in the normal election process.

[starving1968-3]

by LeftwingerLunatics June 6, 2012 7:21 PM EDT
Obama is more fiscally conservative than Reagan, Bush Jr, or Romney
Is that how he ran up 6 trillion in less than 3 years?
So your are a fan of the Big Lie Theory we see.
LMAO!
Good one







How did Obama "run up the deficit" by NOT getting any legislation passed?

Obamacare added $140 billion since it became law, and the stimulus was a one time spending initiative that was a one time cost of $700 BILLION.

BOTH added together, are less than the $1.5 TRILLION ANNUAL RECURRING DEFICIT that his predecessor left him.

Do some math genius - what is $1.5 TRILLION X 3 years?

Now where did the deficit come from again?

[sdgirl11]

Are aware Obama has spent more then all the presidents combined? What planet are you living on? Are you rolling in cash or something? Do you realize the high cost of everything and don't care? This president has done nothing to help improve my life or anyone I know. Oh he cut defense. That caused my husband to lose his job but hey our country doesn't need defense anyway right? If someone attacks us who cares. Do you really think our government will ever get "affordable" health care? You really think Obama will do this for you? AHHH wake up people.

[audemus]

There is one good thing coming from this recall, the more people who get personally acquainted with the unaffordability of health care, the sooner a universal plan will become a reality....so, in sort of a round-about way, thanks Mr. Walker. : )>

[realtimecoffee]

The more healthcare becomes unaffordable, the more a universal plan becomes unworkable. It's not a pretty truth, but it's the truth. The best you can hope for is another government Ponzi, and this one won't last nearly as long as Social Security.

[audemus]

You make an interesting point, I happen to disagree however. Medical expenses keep rising to a large degree because of the unregulated nature of our health care system. Most industrialized countries have some form of funded health care, the United States is still the only wealthy, developed nation that does not...the reasons for this are prejudicial, and have nothing in reality to do with possibility or practicalities or affordability...well over 60 % of bankruptcies in this country are attributed to medical expenses, that's something we really can no longer afford.

To get back to my earlier comments; one can sympathize with a problem you may have, but until they EXPERIENCE it, they can't appreciate the full impact of that problem....a new bunch of people will be moving into that class with first-hand knowledge of health care issues, and I believe, adding their voices to those calling for major health-care reform.