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Jon Dzurak, a 55-year-old assistant principal in Milwaukee, said he initially was leaning toward Democrat Kathleen Falk, but decided to vote for Barrett because he was up in the polls and projected to fare better against Walker. "I just would like to see Scott Walker defeated. I've never seen a division in our state like this. I'm not talking to some of my friends right now because of it," he said. Barrett won the Democratic primary even though he wasn't the favored candidate of the very unions that spurred the fight and helped organize the drive to collect more than 900,000 signatures to trigger the election. Those unions backed Falk, a former Dane County executive, who promised to veto any budget that didn't restore collective bargaining rights. Barrett, who has clashed with unions during his tenure as mayor of the state's largest city, pledged only to try to restore those rights. Despite that rift, both Falk and major union leaders issued statements supporting Barrett and promising to work together to defeat Walker. Barrett may have the unions, but Walker has the money. He has tapped his status as a national conservative rock star to raise $25 million so far, most of it from out of state, shattering fundraising records he set during the 2010 race. Walker had $4.9 million in the bank as of April 23, compared with Barrett's $475,500. Barrett raised $831,500 this year so far. Barrett, 58, has been popular in Milwaukee, where he won re-election in April with 70 percent of the vote. He previously served eight years in the state Legislature and 10 years in Congress.
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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