The recall election of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is the 3rd gubernatorial recall election in the history of our country. Today it all ends.
According to the Center for Public Integrity, this recall election is the most expensive in the history of the state of Wisconsin: "More than $63.5 million has been spent by candidates and independent groups, the overwhelming majority underwritten by out-of-state sources." That is an extraordinary amount of spending. Of course, the faucet didn't just open over night, it was pried lose by a toxic mix of the United States Supreme Court and Wisconsin state law. According to the Center for Public Integrity, this record level spending was made possible by the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision which "had the effect of invalidating Wisconsin’s century-old ban on independent expenditures by corporations and unions - and a state law that allows unlimited contributions to the incumbent in recall elections."
While Gov. Walker has depicted his campaign as an epic battle pitted against "powerful special interests" - like our country's anemic unions - he has raised over 2/3 of his $30.5 million in contributions from outside of the state of Wisconsin. He has also out-raised his competition in the election by 7.5 to 1 since late 2011, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
Of course, labor unions and progressive groups could never compete financially with capital. It is foolhardy to every think they could. What this really boils down to is whether or not enough grassroots organizing has been taking place in the lead up to today's election. It's people power vs. money power. The power of the organized left vs. the power of the propertied class.
While the latest polls taken over the last few weeks show that Gov. Scott Walker has a lead of a few points over his challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, no one really knows what will happen today. There has never been an election like this in the history of the state of Wisconsin. It might be possible for the left to pull an upset victory. Maybe. If they can turn out the numbers. If they can overcome the dizzying and nauseating stew of trash being projectile vomited at voters from every television and radio.
According to one high school organizer, it's been a hard road:
Elena Barham is a West Madison High School senior who helped form the Students for Wisconsin PAC. So far, the group has raised about $30 from T-shirt sales.
“Our goal is not money-based,” said Barham, whose group has focused on voter registration among young voters. “It’s about showing that a grassroots effort could have an impact.”
Barham’s PAC produced a Web ad critical of Walker’s cuts to education and is canvassing in pivotal Dane County — where Barrett needs to win big to have a chance.
At school, Barham has the difficult task of rallying enthusiasm.
“High school kids see all this big money and say, ‘I don’t have a million dollars,’” she said. “It’s hard to convince people of their political efficacy — it’s discouraging.”