From Madison and beyond, a daily dose of political news and glimpses behind the scenes
Partisans fume over Burke allegations
Madison -- The allegation that candidate for governor Mary Burke was forced out of Trek Bicycle Corp., her family business, 21 years ago is drawing howls of outrage from partisans in the race.
Liberals say the Democratic candidate is being “swiftboated” in the campaign's final days with a story that is being denied by Burke’s campaign and her brother, the current head of Trek, after first appearing on a conservative website.
While gleeful to see the allegations in print, conservatives still grouch that the mainstream media didn’t turn up the story earlier while covering the tight race between Burke and GOP Gov. Scott Walker. »Read Full Blog Post(77)
Financial Times looks at Wisconsin, Minnesota and their governors
A story in Thursday's Financial Times examines the economic policies of Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Minnesota's Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton in the days leading up to Tuesday's election.
The article notes that policies in the two states have diverged and that until the most recent polling, so has the polling of the two governors.
"Mr Walker slashed taxes and social services and beat the unions in an epic political fight to restrict collective bargaining and voting rights," The Financial Times notes. "In contrast, Mr Dayton raised taxes and the minimum wage and implemented unabashedly liberal policies. »Read Full Blog Post(7)
Gov. Walker, Congressman Ryan hit the road
Prairie du Sac -- Starting his campaign tour Wednesday with U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, Gov. Scott Walker stopped at an implement dealer here to call for voters to throw their support behind him.
Walker and Ryan, both potential 2016 contenders, stood for the television cameras flanked by a gleaming John Deere tractor and harvester. Not surprisingly, both men downplayed talk of a presidential bid, focusing on the election at hand.
Walker, a Republican, is racing to beat Democrat Mary Burke, a former Trek Bicycle executive and state Commerce secretary, in a close governor's contest. A poll on the race is expected later today from Marquette University Law School. »Read Full Blog Post(46)
JSOnline to feature live coverage of President Obama's Milwaukee visit
President Obama is scheduled to land in Milwaukee on Tuesday for a campaign event with Democratic candidate for Wisconsin governor Mary Burke that will be covered live here on JSOnline.com.
The event will be held at North Division High School on Center Street in Milwaukee, and doors open at 4 p.m. for those with tickets. Check back this evening for live video and updating coverage of the event, as well as full coverage of Election 2014.
Washington Bureau Chief Craig Gilbert notes in his Wisconsin Voter blog that in the ward where the school is located, 99% voted for Obama in the last election. »Read Full Blog Post(48)
More than 146,000 ballots cast in Wisconsin election
The Government Accountability Board reported that more than 146,000 absentee ballots were cast through Friday — 90,456 in clerks' offices and 55,717 by mail.
Another 28,410 absentee ballots were issued but had not yet been returned.
"These are partial numbers," said Kevin J. Kennedy, the state's chief election official. He noted that 360 of the state's 1,852 municipal clerks use the Statewide Voter Registraiton System to track absentee ballots, covering around 69% of Wisconsin's voters.
Early voting ends Friday. (24)
Gov. Scott Walker says labor complaint is political
Middleton -- Gov. Scott Walker Monday dismissed a labor group's complaint being filed against his administration as an election stunt.
"It’s simple. It’s a political stunt. If they were serious about that, they would have done it six months ago," Walker told reporters at an optics manufacturer here. »Read Full Blog Post(22)
Gov. Scott Walker heads into final full week of campaigning
Middleton -- Taking his re-election campaign into its last full week, Gov. Scott Walker made an emotional appeal here to people to consider with their vote the future of young people like his two sons and stuck to his portrayal of Madison voters as "angry" at his policies.
As part of a long day of travel across the state, Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch stumped Monday morning at Vortex Optics, a maker of high-end rifle and spotting scopes.
The Republican governor said he had focused on "the next generation, not the next election" and for that reason had earned the votes of workers at the company. Vortex serves hunters, other outdoorsmen and law enforcement, making it a perfect stop for a GOP candidate. »Read Full Blog Post(12)
Schimel criticizes Happ over plea deals for domestic abusers
Madison -- Ahead of the second debate Friday in the race for attorney general, Republican Brad Schimel accused Democrat Susan Happ of handing out too many deals allowing domestic abusers to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.
Schimel is the Waukesha County district attorney and Happ is the Jefferson County district attorney. The election is Nov. 4.
In a news release, Schimel's campaign said Happ had reached deals in 13 domestic abuse cases over six years in which the assailants resolved their cases by pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. »Read Full Blog Post(2)
Democrats blast Schimel for signing onto anti-abortion legal paper
Madison – Democrats attacked Republican attorney general candidate Brad Schimel on Friday for signing onto a legal paper advocating for a years-long plan to make abortion illegal in nearly all cases.
“Schimel is in cahoots with Wisconsin Right to Life to make abortion a crime in Wisconsin,” state Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison) told reporters in a conference call.
In an interview, Schimel said he opposes abortion but dismissed how Taylor had portrayed him. »Read Full Blog Post(23)
Democrat Susan Happ debuts ad in AG race
Madison -- Democrat Susan Happ unveiled her first ad Friday for the general election in the race for attorney general, catching up to her Republican rival who went on the air earlier this month.
The ad shows Happ, the Jefferson County district attorney, on the back of her Harley-Davidson motorcycle. She says she has prosecuted those who have threatened women, will crack down on Internet predators, will protect people from domestic abuse and will fight to ensure women can make health care decisions with their doctors.
"Susan Happ: fighting for us," a narrator says in the ad. »Read Full Blog Post(8)
President Obama to attend exclusive fundraiser Tuesday
President Barack Obama's visit to Milwaukee Tuesday will include an exclusive $16,000 per head fundraiser at a Downtown sushi bar.
Obama is traveling to Wisconsin to campaign for Democrat Mary Burke in her race against GOP Gov. Scott Walker. But the fundraiser at the restaurant Umami Moto, 718 N. Milwaukee St., will benefit the Democratic National Committee, which is organizing the president's visit, according to an invitation obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
"This event will be a one hour-off-the record conversation with no more than 25 people," Lauren Durham, Midwest finance director for the DNC, wrote in an email sent to potential donors. »Read Full Blog Post(28)
Appeals court declines to rehear John Doe case
Madison -- A federal appeals court refused Thursday to reconsider a decision that threw out a challenge to a John Doe investigation into the campaign of Gov. Scott Walker and group’s backing him.
The Wisconsin Club for Growth sued to stop the probe in February, arguing it violated their rights to free speech and free assembly. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa ordered a halt to the investigation, but a panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in September reversed Randa and ordered the case be dismissed. It found the issues at play in the case should be dealt with by state courts, not federal courts.
The club this month sought to have the panel or the full 10-member court reconsider that ruling. »Read Full Blog Post(43)
Ads go up attacking, praising AG candidate Schimel
Madison -- Outside groups are weighing into the race for attorney general, with the latest spot attacking Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel as weak on handling child sex offenses.
Schimel, a Republican, is running against Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ, a Democrat. GOP Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is not seeking a third term in the Nov. 4 election.
The Committee for Justice & Fairness began running the latest spot this week in a race that at times has included charges each of the candidates were soft on sex crimes. »Read Full Blog Post(2)
Video: Election discussion with Daniel Bice, Craig Gilbert, Charles Franklin and more
The Milwaukee Press Club hosted a panel of analysts Wednesday who examined the run-up to November's elections.
Journal Sentinel Editorial Page Editor David Haynes moderated a conversation with Journal Sentinel watchdog columnist Dan Bice; Craig Gilbert, the Journal Sentinel's Washington bureau chief and Wisconsin Voter blogger; WisPolitics news analyst J.R. Ross; and Marquette University Law School poll director Charles Franklin.
More details on President Clinton's campaign stop in Milwaukee
Doors will open to the public at 11 am Friday for President Bill Clinton's Milwaukee rally on behalf of Democratic candidate for governor Mary Burke.
The event will be held at the Hyatt Regency, 333 W. Kilbourn Ave., accoring to Burke's campaign.
The rally is free and open to the public but attendees will need to pick up tickets between 3 pm and 9 pm on Wednesday and 9 am and 9 pm on Thursday at Burke campaign offices in Milwaukee. (10)
Mary Burke ad takes aim at Gov. Scott Walker's integrity
Madison -- Taking a more aggressive tone than in recent weeks, Democrat Mary Burke attacked GOP Gov. Scott Walker's integrity in her latest television ad.
In the spot, Burke sought to portray Walker as a divisive figure who has been dogged by criminal investigations into associates.
The ad refers to secret John Doe investigations centered in Milwaukee County that have looked at Walker's former aides and supporters as county executive there as well as the 2011 and 2012 recall campaigns. »Read Full Blog Post(103)
Burke votes, signals opposition to Madison tax increase
Madison -- Urging supporters to follow suit, Democrat Mary Burke cast an early ballot here Tuesday in the tight race for governor.
Burke, who is running against GOP incumbent Scott Walker, also signalled that she'll vote against a tax increase that will come before the Madison School Board just one week before the Nov. 4 election.
A former Trek Bicycle executive who also sits on the school board, Burke declined to give her vote in advance but left little doubt which way she will go. »Read Full Blog Post(135)
President Clinton to campaign for Burke in Milwaukee
Former President Bill Clinton will stump in Milwaukee Friday for Democratic candidate for governor Mary Burke.
Clinton, who won Wisconsin twice, will seek to boost Burke's candidacy as she runs a tight race against GOP Gov. Scott Walker, who has himself won two statewide elections here.
Burke spokesman Joe Zepecki made the announcement, saying that her campaign hoped to have more details on the campaign event on Tuesday. (25)
RNC co-chair: Some Wisconsin voters 'might not be as sharp as a knife'
Speaking at a Republican Party field office in Waukesha on Monday, the co-chair of the Republican National Committee talked up the closeness of the governor's race in Wisconsin and the need to get Scott Walker supporters to the polls.
Sharon Day, the co-chair, told the audience, "It's not going to be an easy election, it's a close election. Like I said, much closer than I can even understand why.
"I don't want to say anything about your Wisconsin voters but, some of them might not be as sharp as a knife." »Read Full Blog Post(113)
Burke-Walker: Closing statements
Gov. Scott Walker talked about his roots growing up as the son of an American Baptist minister.
He spoke of helping the state recover from high unemployment and a $3.6 billiion budget deficit.
"We did it the old fashioned way, we actually paid our bills off," he said of dealing with the deficit. »Read Full Blog Post(14)
The Journal Sentinel's Craig Gilbert explores political trends in a purple state.
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