June 4, 2012

Poll: Wisconsin Recall a Tossup

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldonliner/5955049256/sizes/z/in/photostream/">OldOnliner</a>/Flickr

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On Sunday, just two days before Wisconsinites decide whether to recall Gov. Scott Walker, a new poll showed the race between the GOP incumbent and his Democratic challenger Tom Barrett narrowing. North Carolina-based Public Policy Polling surveyed 1,226 likely voters over the weekend and found Walker leading Barrett by just 3 points, 50-47—less than Walker’s previous lead of 50-45 in PPP’s last poll three weeks ago. (The latest poll’s margin of error was ±2.8 percent.)

Former President Bill Clinton was in Wisconsin this weekend to rally the Dem troops, and the state’s labor unions are going all-out to beat Walker. But Dems and labor face a campaign cash disadvantage—Walker has raked in millions from out-of-state dark-money donors—and the final debate of the race saw Barrett and Walker fight to a stalemate. Ultimately, the outcome of this battle will depend on turnout. If labor unions and Dems can get their voters to the polls, they stand a chance. If not, a more motivated conservative electorate will keep Walker in office. By Tuesday night, we’ll know.

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It’s the most important month of the year for our fundraising, with upward of 15 percent of our annual online total coming in during the final week—and there’s a lot to say about why Mother Jones’ journalism, and thus hitting that big number, matters tremendously right now.

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