Gov. Walker hits the campaign trail

Talk about it

The third governor in U.S. history to face a recall election made his first campaign swing around Wisconsin on Wednesday.

Republican Scott Walker’s family and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch held rallies in La Crosse, Eau Claire, Mosinee, Green Bay, Milwaukee and at a Dane County farm.

Walker called the election a test of political courage in deciding which way the state will go. He contrasted his efforts to balance the state budget with those in neighboring Illinois, which he was said was plagued by deficits and tax increases.

The governor touted the 17,000 private sector jobs created in Wisconsin in the first two months of this year. He said he kept his campaign promises to reform the budget and make tough decisions.

Walker’s speeches did not specifically mention one of the main reasons for the recall – his bill that virtually eliminated collective bargaining for most state and local public employees.

He said the recall was forced by “big government union bosses in Washington who want to take us backwards.”

Walker will find out on May 8 who his challenger will be on June 5.

Four Democrats filed papers yesterday and polls show that Tom Barrett and Kathleen Falk are the top challengers.

Walker told reporters that all the Democrats have embraced policies that “put Wisconsin backwards in the past.” He said he doesn’t have a preference for a final opponent.

Walker said the candidate is secondary to the out-of-state union money that will be spent to try to defeat him.

Primary candidates

Seven opponents filed nomination papers to run in the governor’s recall primaries on May 8.

Walker will have at least one GOP primary challenger – frequent Capitol protestor Arthur Kohl-Riggs, who joined the other candidates in filing his papers by yesterday’s deadline.

Michael Mangan of West Allis also filed as a Republican, but he only had 303 valid signatures, far short of the 2,000 needed to get on the ballot.

There were no surprises on the Democratic side. All four announced candidates filed – Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Secretary of State Doug La Follette and state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout of Alma.

Fake Democrat Gladys Huber also filed.

Kohl-Riggs said on his Web site that he’s running to discourage Republicans from crossing over in the primary and causing havoc in the Democratic race.

Senate GOP Scott Fitzgerald said there’s some sentiment for Republicans to vote for Falk, because polls indicate she wouldn’t do as well as Barrett against Gov. Walker in June.

State Senate races

Democrats only need to gain one Senate seat among the four that are up for election this spring to regain control of the upper house.

A full field of Democrats filed by Wednesday’s deadline.

Fort Atkinson photographer Lori Compas and fake Democrat Gary Ellerman filed to try to unseat Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau.

Former Senate Democrat John Lehman of Racine and fake Democrat Tamra Varebrook filed to run against Racine Republican Van Wanggaard.

Former Assembly Democrat Kristen Dexter of Eau Claire and fake Democrat James Engel filed to try to defeat Chippewa Falls Republican Terry Moulton.

And Wausau Assembly Democrat Donna Seidel goes up against fake Democrat Jim Buckley, with the winner to face Assembly Republican Jerry Petrowski. Petrowski is running for the Senate seat given up by Wausau’s Pam Galloway, who was targeted for recall before she stepped down last month.

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