Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wis., defeated a Democratic recall effort by seven points yesterday in a state that President Obama carried in 2008 with 56 percent of the vote. The White House says this doesn’t matter.
Recommended Stories
“I certainly wouldn’t read much into yesterday’s result beyond its effect on who’s occupying the governor’s seat in Wisconsin,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters during today’s press gaggle.
Obama’s spokesman suggested that Walker voters would support Obama in the fall. “I certainly read in some of the analysis by you and your colleagues that even among the electorate that voted yesterday in Wisconsin, voters substantially approved of the President’s positions when it comes to who they felt had the best vision for protecting and securing the middle class,” he said.
“I certainly think that the President’s message about the steps we need to take to grow the economy and create jobs will resonate in Wisconsin,” Carney added.
Democrats have been lowering expectations — and emphasizing the “unique” factors at play in the recall — for weeks, but they argued that the election would have major presidential ramifications when they believed Walker would lose.
“I think that he [Walker opponent Tom Barrett] has a real opportunity to win,” Wasserman Schultz said last week. “We have put our considerable grassroots resources behind him. All of the Obama for America and state party resources, our grassroots network is fully engaged. And — well, I think what’s going to happen is that because of our on-the-ground operation, we have had an opportunity in this election, because especially given that Wisconsin is a battleground state, just like we did in the recall elections a year ago, to give this a test run.”
The election last night wasn’t all that close. Carney attributed the Democratic loss to Walker’s money advantage. “It’s pretty hard to overcome when you’re outspent 7 or 8 to 1,” he said.
