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 But first, Walker must win re-election. And if Tuesday's primary
vote comes in as expected, Democrat Mary Burke will be the opponent
standing in his way.
Burke has surprised some observers by not emphasizing Act 10, the
Walker-backed law that led to the recall push. Frequent sightings of
bumper stickers with "Recall Walker" or "Stand with Walker" are a
legacy of the political battles over the issue.
Burke says she supports having public-sector workers contribute more
to pensions and healthcare, while arguing they should retain
collective bargaining rights. Yet she does not emphasize the issue
in her stump speech and explains she wants to move Wisconsin past
it.
"There were a lot of people who did not feel that there had to be
the divisiveness that tore our state apart," Burke said recently
after touring a business center in the river city of La Crosse. "It
became political and that's not in the best interests of the people
of Wisconsin."
FISCAL CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRAT
A former executive at Trek Bicycle, which her father founded, Burke
declares herself a fiscal conservative. But she also takes stances -
in favor of raising the minimum wage, overturning Walker's decision
to refuse federal dollars for the expansion of Medicaid and opposing
cuts to education - that make her popular with the Democratic
rank-and-file.
"I don't care if they're Republican or Democratic ideas, let's
choose the ones that are going to work and let's bring people
together," Burke told Reuters.
Burke has also focused on Walker's inability to fulfill a promise to
create 250,000 jobs in his first term. So far, there are fewer than
100,000 new jobs in Wisconsin under Walker, according to government
data. Pundits note that at the current pace, it would take until
Walker's third term to reach his goal.
Burke had a cautious start as a campaigner, but analysts now say she
is showing savvy, staying focused on her message, just like her
opponent.
"It could be that the Democrats have found their own Scott Walker,"
said Mordecai Lee, a political science professor at the University
of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
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MIDDLE MATTERS
The race is tight, with the last three polls effectively tied with
less than three months until the election. In late May the
non-partisan Cook Political Report moved the gubernatorial race in
Wisconsin from "Lean Republican" to "Toss Up," with "a bit of a
thumb on the scale for Walker."
Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette University Law School
poll that also has shown the race up for grabs, said voters view
Burke as a clean slate. "But it's an open question how she will fare
against a skilled campaigner like Walker when the campaign heats
up," he said.
Walker's campaign has so far sought to tie Burke to Walker's
predecessor Jim Doyle, governor when Wisconsin struggled with budget
deficits and unemployment peaking at 9.2 percent. Burke served as
Democrat Doyle's commerce secretary from 2005 to 2007.
Voters will have "a clear choice between a record of job growth and
balanced budgets under Governor Walker or a return to the large
deficits and job losses Wisconsin suffered under Jim Doyle," said
Walker spokesman Tom Evenson.
Walker is showing a pronounced fundraising advantage. His campaign
through the end of July had raised $8.3 million this year, compared
to $4.15 million for Burke. Walker has $7.6 million in cash on hand;
Burke, just $1.7 million.
Among the undecided is Wyatt Hrudka, 24, who builds customized
bicycles. After meeting Burke in La Crosse, Hrudka said he wants to
know which candidate can most help his business grow.
"I'll make up my mind on this race when I see some details from both
sides on how they can help entrepreneurs like me," Hrudka said.
(Editing by David Greising and Eric Walsh)
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