Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

Walker Easily Wins Wisconsin Recall - NBC News was the first to call the race with only about 25% of the precincts reporting and Republican Governor Scott Walker would beat Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett by 7 points.  Reuters.com has more here.

Which such a strong victory, I would not suggest a recount effort by Democrats.  Nor, would I boo-hoo too much on the corporate money which went to Walker, as union money went to Barrett.

Barrett was the wrong choice for the Democrats in this recall election.  First, he had lost in the regular election to Walker by 5 points and second, the unions did not support him in the Democratic primary, instead supporting his opponent who would lose.

It remains to be seen how much impact this recall election will have on the presidential election in November.  Stay Tuned..

---

Obama 52%, Romney 43% in Wisconsin Exit Polls - an interesting statistic from an election easily won by Republican Governor Walker.

Some other tidbits were 59% from exit polling were registered as independents, 56% described themselves as moderate, 52% were male and only 23% were from union households.  The Fix has more here. 

---

Absentees to Determine Control of Wisconsin State Senate - Democrats needed to win 1 of 4 of the state senate recall elections to win a majority.  They easily won three of the contests and the fourth in district 21 has the Democratic candidate John Lehman ahead of Van Wanggaard by 779 votes.  TPM.com has more here. 

---

New California Ballot Rules Result in Democratic Representatives Sherman-Berman Facing Each Other in November - the referendum to move to an open nonpartisan election has the top two finishers in each district facing each other in November, regardless of political party affiliation.  Brad Sherman received 39% to 34% for Howard Berman.  TheHill.com has more here.

---

Kaine, Allen Tied in Virginia - in the latest poll for the U.S. Senate seat, the results show Democratic candidate Tim Kaine with 44% and Republican George Allen with 43%.  Politico.com has more here.

---

Roger Simon, Bill Clinton Dust Up Continues - a columnist I love to read and a former President who left office with a surplus seem to be having their tit-for-tat.  Simon calling out Clinton for his flattering statements of Mitt Romney's leadership of Bain and Clinton responding with he was not employed by the Obama campaign.  Now, Simon is not letting Clinton off the hook for his recent comments suggesting the George W. Bush cuts should not be allowed to expire.  A position contrary to just about all elected Democrats in Congress.  There is more here in Simon's latest piece. 

At least, so far, Simon has not gone back to the 2008 Democratic primary, when Bill Clinton referred to Bararack Obama as a fairy tale.  But, there is still plenty of time for him to do so.  Stay Tuned....

---

Pascrell Easily Defeats Rothman in New Jersey Primary - Bill Pascrell who was backed by former President Bill Clinton easily won with 70% of the vote over his fellow Democratic Representative Steven Rothman, who was backed by president Obama.  They were forced to face each other due to redistricting.  RollCall.com has more here.

---

To receive "Daily Email Updates" from Air-it-Out with George Wenschhof, click on "Subscribe to this feed" below.

Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

Wisconsin Votes Today - polls close at 9:00 PM ET and the results will surely have national implications in this recall election.  The divide is huge between Republican Governor Scott Walker and Democratic candidate; Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.  The Journal-Sentinel has more here.

This is a rematch of the election won by Walker by 5 points in 2010.  Polls show Walker leading by 3 points.

Also up for election today is 4 state senate seats, where Democrats need only to win one of the races to gain a majority.

---

Partisan Polarization Worst in 25 Years - hardly a surprise to the results from the survey done by PEW Research. The partisan gap has doubled in the twenty-five years since PEW began this survey, with the largest gaps increasing during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations.  PEW Research has more here.

---

Obama Campaign Releases Their Electoral Map - with eight  swing states: Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, New Hampshire, and Colorado.  You can read more here.

---

Senate To Vote on Paycheck Fairness Act Today - it is not expected to overcome a Republican filibuster.  Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) has led the charge for this bill in what Democrats hope will help them with women voters in the fall elections.  The Washington Post has more here.

---

Clinton Ties Republican Economic Policy to Austerity Measures in Europe - which I have been writing about for weeks.  The German led austerity measures have resulted in a new President in France, along with economic and political turmoil in Greece, severly impacting the global economy.  Former president Bill Clinton made the correlation during a fundraiser in New York last night for President Obama.  TheHill.com has more here.

---

Watch Closely California Primaries Today - due to the latest referendum passed in the state, all candidates will appear on a single ballot, with the top two candidates moving on to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.  At least ten Representatives elected or reelected in 2010 will be out.  Will the nonpartisan congressional elections catch on elsewhere?  RollCall.com has more here.

---

NY Governor Cuomo Proposes Decriminalizing Marijuana - the Governor is one who is rumored to be on the 2016 Democratic presidential hopeful list.  What is being proposed would only affect marijuana in public view and not decriminalize smoking it.  CNN.com has more here.

---

To receive "Daily Email Updates" from Air-it-Out with George Wenschhof, click on "Subscribe to this feed" below.

Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

All Eyes On Wisconsin - by the end of tomorrow, the results will likely be tabulated and the winner known in the recall election in Wisconsin.  Recent polls continue to show Republican Governor Scott Walker slightly ahead of Democratic Mayor Tom Barrett.  Reuters.com has more here.

The get-out-the-vote effort by Democrats will be key to this contest. Republicans are hoping a Walker win will be a downer for Democrats and especially President Obama in November.

However, there were a lot of back stories in this contest, including the Democratic primary.

Look to see Democrats win at least one of the four state senate recall elections today to regain a majority.

---

Are Global Economic and Political Systems Capable of Working Together? - a good question as European countries struggle to agree on policies, the U.S. struggles with job creation and Asia shows weak business growth.  The Washington Post has more here.

---

Obama Campaign Continues Focus on Romney's Term as Governor - the latest campaign ads airing in swing states point out the rhetoric by Mitt Romney of creating jobs and the results showing Massachusetts with one of the worst economies in the country at the end of Romney's term in office.  TheHill.com has more here.

---

Romney Backed Solar Firm Fails - Konarka Technologies, who received a $1.5 million loan from Mitt Romney when he was Governor of Massachusetts has filed for bankruptcy.  This comes shortly after Romney visited Solyndra, who pointed out Solyndra failed after receiving loans under the Obama administration.  Politico.com has more here.

---

Keep an Eye on Nonpartisan Elections in California - when California voters go to the polls Tuesday, they will be selecting the top two from each legislative district to go on to the general election and not the top one from each political party.

The change is a result of a referendum passed by voters in 2010.  This is an attempt to end the partisan gridlock prevalent in Congress today.  Doubtful, Representatives from one state can make a difference in Congress or that this idea will catch on with other states.  But, it is an election which should be watched closely.  The NY Times has more here.

---

A Clinton-O'Malley Democratic Ticket in 2016? - an interesting thought and one which may well transpire.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton received kudos from House minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calf.) who recently said "Clinton is the Democrat's best shot in 2016". 

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley as chair of the Democratic Governors Association has faithfully been carrying the water for the Obama administration and due to term limits will end his office in 2014.  O'Malley has made no secret of his 2016 White House interests.  If Hillary Clinton would decide to run, she would immediately kick O'Malley to the curb.  Whereas, a pairing of the two would present a formidable ticket for Democrats in 2016.

---

Close Contest in Arizona Special Election To Replace Giffords - held on Tuesday June 12, the race between Republican Jesse Kelly and Democrat Ron Barber promises to be close.  The winner will have a advantage going into the November election, even though redistricted districts will make this one more Democratic.  RollCall.com has more here.

---

To receive "Daily Email Updates" from Air-it-Out with George Wenschhof, click on "Subscribe to this feed" below.

Daily Political Wire

George wenschhof

Economy Sputters - as expected, the Labor Department report showed a slight uptick in unemployment to 8.2% and only 69, 000 new jobs were created in May, the fewest in a year.  Time.com has more here. 

This comes at a time in the year when employment opportunities generally increase with seasonal job opportunities. Stay tuned, as the economy will determine the presidential winner in November.

---

Obama/Bush Ordered Cyber Attacks on Iranian Facility - turns out the U.S. has been engaging in disrupting the development of the nuclear program in Iran for some time.  TheHill.com has more here. 

---

Edwards Prosecution Was a Stretch - the caes was weak and never should have been moved forward to trial.  The costly trail at taxpayers expense, concluded with one not guilty verdict and a hunf jury.  Do not look to see the case retried.  TPM.com has more here.

---

Elizabeth Warren Continues to Struggle With Native American Story - what should be a non issue has become foder for discussion as the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate has fumbled detailing her employment with Harvard Law School and when she disclosed her native American hertitage.  The Washington Post has more here.

---

U.S. Military Being Drawn Into Yemen? - will Yemen become the next battleground for the U.S., is the question as hundreds of military advisers are on the ground trying to train Yemeni government troops.  Reuters.com has more here. 

---

To receive "Daily Email Updates" from Air-it-Out with George Wenschhof, click on "Subscribe to this feed" below.