Obama Hides as Final Wisconsin Recall Polls Released
COMMENTARY | Tuesday will be a big day for Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama. Both solidly in control of their respective nominations, neither will spend much time worrying about the results of the penultimate primary day. Both will have their attention focused on Wisconsin, and on November.
Two new polls released Sunday afternoon hint that the recall election of Governor Scott Walker is going to be a nail-biter. Public Policy Polling places Walker ahead of challenger Tom Barrett 50-47. Barrett, the Mayor of Milwaukee who lost the governor’s race to Walker in 2010, trails 53-47 according to Angus Reid Public Opinion.
What is stunning is the amount of money spent by both sides so far, nearly $61 million according to the Los Angeles Times. More stunning, Walker beat Barrett 52-47 in 2010, so if the final two polls are averaged, all that money has not budged the electorate even 1 percent for either candidate.
Walker became a divisive figure in Wisconsin with the passage of Wisconsin Act 10, nicknamed the “Budget Repair Bill” in 2011.
The bill forced state and local workers to pay more for health insurance and pensions, and placed caps on raises. Moreover, it struck directly at unions by making payment of union dues voluntary, forcing unions to re-certify each year, and dramatically limiting collective bargaining rights.
In addition to taking aim at Democratic strongholds like government employees and unions, the bill set in motion an embarrassing act of desperation when Democratic lawmakers, powerless to stop passage of the bill, fleeing the state and going into hiding to postpone a vote.
This recall election is not simply a referendum on Scott Walker. It is a referendum on the tea party, on union bashing, on hard-right conservative principles, and on balancing the budget by exacting concessions from the poor and middle class.
Will Tuesday’s vote provide any insight on the November contest between Romney and Obama in Wisconsin, a crucial swing state with 10 electoral votes? The most recent Rasmussen Poll gives Obama a 49-45 lead, within the margin of error.
Why has President Obama avoided campaigning for Barrett despite the importance of the race? Obama was in Chicago on Friday and in the Twin Cities on Saturday, both within 250 miles of Madison, Wisconsin’s capital. Would not an appearance by the President have been a needed, last minute boost to Barrett?
Are Obama and the Democrats scared they will fail in the recall? Would Obama rather stand on the sidelines and take his chances Tuesday than personally jump into the fray and risk the recall election becoming a referendum on his presidency instead of Walker’s governorship?
We elect leaders to lead. We elect them to fight for their principles, regardless of political pain. We did not elect leaders to flee then, or to hide from the fight now.
President Obama and the Democrats owed Wisconsin a better fight.
