MADISON -- Kathleen Falk's drubbing in Tuesday's Democratic primary has some political insiders questioning the decisions, and influence, of the state's major public labor unions.
Falk, 60, was the first Democrat to enter the recall election, announcing her candidacy even before the race was official. Major labor unions, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Wisconsin Education Association Council, quickly endorsed her and then went on to spend nearly $5 million to help her win the nomination.
But on Tuesday, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett -- a candidate for whom the unions initially showed very little love -- defeated the former Dane County executive by 24 percentage points, a margin of victory all the more startling given that he entered the race late and was outspent 5-to-1. Barrett's victory was even more pronounced in Dane County, Falk's backyard, where he won by 30 points.
"It was a very bad night for WEAC and AFSCME," said Mark Graul, a GOP political consultant who has worked on several campaigns. "When a union-backed candidate loses by 20 points in a Democratic primary, you have to question what sway the unions now have, not only in politics, but with their own members."
Falk's relationship with the state's major unions has been an issue since she entered the race. The partnership became controversial when it was revealed Falk had promised union leaders to veto any state budget that didn't repeal Gov. Scott Walker's collective bargaining law.
She was dubbed the "union candidate," a label that Mordecai Lee, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee political scientist, said became a "millstone" around her neck.
"This was a major overreach by unions and, frankly, it makes organized labor as a political force look almost like an empty suit," Lee said.
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/ar...ions-influence-questioned-after-Falk-s-defeat
LOL
Even with all the union money, they still could not get their stooge a win. Gov. Walker got 7,500 more votes (6,538) than the top two Democrat candidates combined (619,049).
Falk, 60, was the first Democrat to enter the recall election, announcing her candidacy even before the race was official. Major labor unions, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Wisconsin Education Association Council, quickly endorsed her and then went on to spend nearly $5 million to help her win the nomination.
But on Tuesday, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett -- a candidate for whom the unions initially showed very little love -- defeated the former Dane County executive by 24 percentage points, a margin of victory all the more startling given that he entered the race late and was outspent 5-to-1. Barrett's victory was even more pronounced in Dane County, Falk's backyard, where he won by 30 points.
"It was a very bad night for WEAC and AFSCME," said Mark Graul, a GOP political consultant who has worked on several campaigns. "When a union-backed candidate loses by 20 points in a Democratic primary, you have to question what sway the unions now have, not only in politics, but with their own members."
Falk's relationship with the state's major unions has been an issue since she entered the race. The partnership became controversial when it was revealed Falk had promised union leaders to veto any state budget that didn't repeal Gov. Scott Walker's collective bargaining law.
She was dubbed the "union candidate," a label that Mordecai Lee, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee political scientist, said became a "millstone" around her neck.
"This was a major overreach by unions and, frankly, it makes organized labor as a political force look almost like an empty suit," Lee said.
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/ar...ions-influence-questioned-after-Falk-s-defeat
LOL
Even with all the union money, they still could not get their stooge a win. Gov. Walker got 7,500 more votes (6,538) than the top two Democrat candidates combined (619,049).