Recall Tracker: Robo Calls, Big Ad Buy and More

Group Reportedly Will Spend $150K on TV Ads

Mother Jones magazine is reporting that Americans for Prosperity, the conservative political advocacy group founded by David Koch, has purchased $150,000 in TV air time in Green Bay, Madison, and Milwaukee.

If, as expected, the money is spent on ads supporting Republican senators targeted for recall in the Aug. 9 election, the buy will bring the group's overall political spending on the recall races to more than $500,000.

Voters Receive Questionable Robocalls

According to the Statehouse News Online, a voter received a telephone call early one morning and although it was automated, she took a few minutes to listen. But this wasn't selling her a trip to Tahiti, this was about the recall election in the 32nd District. However, this call had some misinformation - citing the date of the election as Aug. 16, when the election is really on Aug. 9.  

While some may feel this is just a mistake, she and others believe feel it's an attempt to keep voters from the polls.

“I think it’s deliberate,” she told Wisconsin Reporter according to the article. “I feel like it was a deliberate attempt to have people miss the election by a week.”

In the 32nd District, Republican state Sen. Dan Kapanke is facing Democratic Rep. Jennifer Shilling, both of La Crosse.

At least two other people in the same district have reported also receiving these calls, the article said. The state Government Accountability Board told Statehouse News Online that it also has received complaints about the calls.

Illinois Democrats to Campaign for Pasch

on Aug. 6 to campaign for state Rep. Sandy Pasch in the recall race against incumbent Republican Sen. Alberta Darling.

“The Republicans see this as a must-win election, making it a must-win for us,” states the Illinois Tenth Congressional Democrats website.

The group notes that Darling has raised twice as much money as Pasch, but noted that live campaigning by grassroots supporters can help offset that financial gap.

The Democrats, from a congressional district that extends from Evanston to a bit past Waukegan, plan to meet in Highland Park and carpool to Wisconsin the morning of Aug. 6.

Tea Party Express to Help Out GOP

The Tea Party Express will be rolling through Wisconsin starting next week to .

The group, which has organized rallies throughout the country that feature speakers like Sarah Palin, Joe the Plumber, Michelle Bachmann and Ann Coulter, will hold rallies from Aug. 5 through Aug. 8, the Monday before the recall elections that have thrust Wisconsin into the national spotlight.

“Wisconsin has become ground zero in the fight between corrupt big-union bosses and the fiscally responsible conservatives, which are trying to usher in legislative policies that will fix their state’s budget,” the organization states on its website.

We Are Wisconsin Hits One Million Voter Milestone

A press release by We Are Wisconsin says the group has hit a new milestone - 11,500 volunteers and staff have knocked on 363,916 doors and made 688,560 phone calls.

The release says many of the volunteers are people who have never canvassed or engaged in political campaigning before.

“This landmark is an incredible victory for the millions of working people across Wisconsin who are disgusted by Scott Walker’s extreme agenda," said Kristen Crowell, We Are Wisconsin’s Field Director. "More importantly, this milestone is a reflection of the strong grassroots energy all over the state from people who want to take their government back and reverse a reckless agenda that attacks the core values that define Wisconsin."

The Twitter Feed

@PJHogan86 Why is @sandyforsenate thanking Florida voter for $, but knocking @darling4senate for having Wisconsinite @reppaulryan support her?

@richards_andy Chants of "Recall Darling" ringing outside @Darling4Senate office in Glendale

@Wisunionwatch @sandyforsenate You are aware that Medicare is a federal program, right?

@emilyslist All whining and no policy ideas makes the Tea Party Express a dull bus tour

For more information and continual updates on the Darling and Pasch race, check out these Twitter handles: #recalltracker, #wirecall, #wiunion, #sandyforsenate, #darling4senate, #Mkedems, #mkegop.

Where Will They Be?

Who and What