Wisconsin's Walker makes history surviving recall election


Unions and liberal activists of the are forced to remind the elections are according to the law deterrence of collective negotiations powers for workers of of budgetary sphere have passed shortly after the addition, the Walker has entered up their post in in 2011.

With nearly all votes counted, the Republican Walker won by 8 percentage points for Democratic challenger Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, the governor of a big win against the same opponent two years ago.

Republicans across the country were delighted with this outcome in a state that President Obama won by 14 percentage points in 2008.

The expected Republican opponent in November, Obama, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, said Walker, to congratulate him, the assistant said Romney. Romney called Walker "a hero" when he visited Wisconsin earlier this year.

"Victory, as it shows, Wisconsin may be red (more than a Republican) state in 2012 and could be bad news for Obama," said Thad Kousser, an associate professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego.

Even the organization of the campaign, Obama acknowledged Tuesday that Wisconsin can be competitive in November. There is no of the Republican won the the state, the so-as a Ronald Reagan in the in 1984.

The victory could embolden Walker Republican governors in other states to take on unions, analysts say.

"The trade unions were trying to to take a firm the position of, and, when you bet everything on the one election and the to lose, of politicians across the country, will not be to be afraid of to take on yourself trade unions are," Kousser said.

The victory also branded Walker as a rising star in the Republican. While he ruled, serving as vice-presidential candidate, Romney, it may be a future national candidate.

Walker has concluded a conciliatory the tone in the his victory speech, having told, what he wanted, to try to lead divide the the state together.

"At the beginning of 2011, I rushed to try to rectify the situation before I say about them. Because you can see for many years, too many politicians ... talking about things, but never eliminate them, "Walker told the crowd roaring supporters.

November barometer?

Elections in the politically divided Wisconsin was seen as a barometer of U.S. political climate is going in the presidential election in November.

The result is the latest evidence of the growing partisan climate in American politics that values ​​confrontation over compromise and has led to gridlock in Washington.

He also suggests that some voters will support politicians who seek to balance the state budget by cutting spending and reducing pensions and allowances for civil servants, rather than raising taxes.

Some voters in Wisconsin said it was only fair that the union workers to pay more pension and health insurance, which most private sector workers have no pensions at all.

Kent Redfield, a political scientist at the University of Illinois at Springfield, said the result could demoralize the Democrats and labor unions. "This can affect on the turnout in the fall of", he said.

On the eve of the withdrawal of the election, the unions and the Conservatives are set to receive intensive-out-the vote drives. Grassroots activists in the Conservative Party, tea has played an important role in these efforts on the right.

"This is a huge victory for the Tea Party", said Matt Batzel, Director of the Wisconsin National Conservative Action Group of the majority of American who worked with local activists. "From time to time they responded to the call to defend Scott Walker," he told the group that seeks deep cuts in U.S. government spending.

Voter turnout was high in a country where families were at loggerheads, and the neighbors do not talk to each push Walker to reduce the collective agreements for public sector employees.

Recall elections have led to huge costs of the campaign in the Midwest rust belt state, according to some estimates, more than $ 60 million has been raised. The so-called super-PACs, independent groups that invest in the U.S. presidential campaign, were the main driving force in the State of Wisconsin.

It was only the third election of the governor recall in U.S. history and follows weeks of protests loud protesters who have occupied the Capitol in Madison, as Walker and his fellow Republican lawmakers pushed through the Union borders in March 2011.

The law has forced the majority of public servants, including teachers, to pay more for health insurance and pensions, limits their salaries made the payment of union dues voluntary and forced unions to re-certification every year.

Democrats and labor unions were about one million signatures to force the recall election.

Harley Shaiken, labor professor at the University of California, Berkeley, warned that the result of Wisconsin does not mean that there will be a wholesale attack on unions across the country.

"This is certainly a victory of Walker, but it was very costly and disruptive victory," he said. "Some MPs (other countries) will try to follow the same path, but they may find it very expensive to do it."

In addition to Walker, the opponents are forced to recall elections in Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and four state senators who voted for the restriction of trade unions. Kleefisch and three out of four Republicans in the Senate won. In the fourth race, the Republican lead.

If this statement is true to the Walker will continue in office with Republican majority legislature.

Despite the victory, Walker did not have a completely intact. He still faces investigation into alleged corruption during his tenure as Milwaukee County executive before he became governor.

Only two previous attempts to recall a meeting of the governors was Lynn Frazier of North Dakota in 1921, and Gray Davis in California in 2003. Both lost.

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