This is not going to be a popular thing to say.
But the reasons the Democratic/professional political establishment did not support or want the recall were valid.
The professionals (the ones that make their living running campaigns and getting people elected) knew:
1) A certain percentage of people would be against the recall barring a significant scandal on Walker's part (yes, we know he's eventually going down, but think Nixon '72).
2) Ticket-splitters, those who are supporting both Obama and Walker. Strange as that seems to us, those people exist, and the President was not going to come into a lean-Dem state and tell these supporters they're full of crap.
3) Recalls rarely if ever are successful.
4) Ditto rematches. Had Feingold run, it may have been different, but barring scandal rematches rarely produce different results.
More in extended.
That said, it's clear also that:
1) It's unlikely the Senate gets taken back without the larger gubernatorial recall driving turnout for those Senate recall districts.
2) We now have, per Kos, the best poll ever taken of a state a few months prior to a Presidential election - Wisconsin seems in the bag for Obama.
3) Every voter in Wisconsin is going to remember how they voted when they were eventually screwed over by Walker and the Republicans. This will pay dividends in 2014.
4) I have not seen anything on the Senate race, but the increased interest/turnout can only help us retain that seat.
On balance, my take is that even though the pros told us not to do it, the recall showed Koch, Inc there will be a response and it will cost them $$$$.