Here is a quick guide to filter through the recall election rough and tumble:
1) Dane County. The University of Wisconsin-Madison and the state government call Dane County home, and a win for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is improbable without a far-above-average showing. Early reports from Madison indicated turnout could rise beyond the 100 percent of registered voters and include those who registered Tuesday.
2) Unions. Gov. Scott Walker’s effort to limit union workers’ collective bargaining rights has been the focal point of the recall, and Twitter was flooded Tuesday with reports of union workers heading to the polls. If the union vote is the highest that it has been in eight years, as the Washington Post projects is possible, the race gets even tighter.
3) Overall Turnout. The state Government Accountability Board has projected turnout around 65 percent, which would be higher than in 2010 and lower than in 2008. If turnout trends mimic 2010, when Walker was elected governor, then Democrats’ recall hopes might be dashed.
4) Tea Party Vote. If Tea Party voters flock to the polls as they did nationwide in 2010, then Barrett might again be disappointed in his race for the governor’s seat. Exit polls Tuesday show deep divisions among voters and dissatisfaction with both political parties, but Walker’s campaign will rely on those who strongly approve of his time in office.
By Annelise Russell, News21
