Politics & Government

Daily Recall Election Roundup: May 29

Here are the latest updates from the campaign trail in the June 5 Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election.

Every day between now and the June 5 gubernatorial recall election, Patch will provide daily updates on what's happening on the campaign trail.

Check back with this column throughout the day for the latest recall-related news.

3:45 p.m. GAB estimates 60 to 65 percent voter turnout on June 5

Find out what's happening in Fox Point-Baysidewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board is predicting between 60 and 65 percent of eligible voters will cast ballots in the June 5 recall election. 

The press release sent out Tuesday afternoon says this would mean 2.6 million to 2.8 million people will vote. 

Find out what's happening in Fox Point-Baysidewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Wisconsin has never had a statewide recall election, which makes predicting turnout difficult,” said Kevin Kennedy, director and general counsel of the GAB.  “We typically look at history for guidance in predicting turnout. We expect turnout for this election to be much higher than the 49.7 percent turnout in the 2010 General Election for Governor, but not as high as the 69.2 percent turnout in the 2008 General Election for President of the United States.”

Early voting is strong already, with the number of residents requesting absentee ballots continuing to climb. As of noon Tuesday more than 130,000 absentee ballots had been issued. Some clerk's offices are holding extended hours to accomodate early and absentee voting requests. 

11:10 a.m.: Barrett calls on Walker to release emails associated with the John Doe investigation

Citing a Journal Sentinel investigative report about how the John Doe criminal corruption investigation may be looking at emails between Walker and one of his top aides, Barrett is again calling for the governor to release emails to the public. 

In a press release, Barrett stated: "Today's report, called a potential bombshell, reveals that Gov. Walker may indeed be the target of the John Doe criminal corruption prode, and that his emails are at the center of the case. It is essential for Scott Walker to come clean with the people of Wisconsin, and show the public all of these emails. The people deserve to know the full truth about Walker's involvement in this investigation." 

The emails Barrett is referring to were between Walker and aide John Hiller, about potential bid-rigging in a county real estate deal.

10:15 a.m.: New Walker ad blasts Barrett on crime stats

Gov. Scott Walker's campaign has just released a new ad that takes on his opponent, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, over the issue of misreporting of crime statistics in the city.

The ad is being released following an investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that showed that hundreds of assault cases were not being properly categorized as violent crimes.

“The widespread misreporting of violent crimes in Milwaukee is disturbing, and Mayor Barrett owes his constituents an explanation,” said Walker campaign spokeswoman Ciara Matthews in a statement. “Mayor Barrett has failed the people of Milwaukee yet again, and an independent investigation should begin immediately to determine just how these violent criminal acts were brushed under the rug for the sake of political gain.”

The ad includes a video clip of Barrett touting a 15 percent drop in the city's violent crime rate and follows that segment with:

But the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found that hundreds of beatings, stabbings, and child abuse cases were never even counted. Violent crime in Milwaukee is up, and Tom Barrett isn’t telling the truth.

8:55 a.m.: Barrett to campaign with Feingold 

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett will hit the road with former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold in a series of campaign appearances at coffee shops throughout the state on Tuesday.

Feingold will make stops with the Milwaukee mayor in Baraboo, Wisconsin Rapids and Marshfield as part of the "Wisconsin First Tour." Barrett will then make a solo stop in Green Bay.

Barrett and Feingold will appear at 9:15 a.m. at the Coffee Bean Connection in Baraboo; 11:20 a.m. at From the Ground Up in Wisconsin Rapids; and at 2 p.m. at the Daily Grind in Marshfield. Barrett will then head to the Wisconsin First offices in Green Bay for a 4:50 p.m. appearance.

8:45 a.m.: Walker appearances focus on jobs

Job creation has become one of the central issues of the gubernatorial campaign and Republican Gov. Scott Walker will visit two Wisconsin businesses Tuesday to focus on that issues.

The first stop is set for 10 a.m. at HUSCO International in Waukesha, a company that manufacture of hydraulic and electrohydraulic controls for excavators, backoes and other equipment. During the campaign stop, Walker will highlight the company's continued growth.

At 2 p.m., the governor will be in northwestern Wisconsin for a groundbreaking and job announcement at Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. in Whitehall.


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