Mary Burke - Can she take down Scott Walker if she runs?
It appears we may have one of the first potential candidates to run against the infamous Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker: Madison School Board member Mary Burke.
A number of other potential Democratic candidates have expressed their interest in the race but according to what I understand (unless you fellow Kossacks can correct me), no official credible Democrat has announced his/her intentions to run as of yet.
Mary Burke though seems to be one of those potential candidates though who is considering a run:
http://host.madison.com/...
Madison School Board member Mary Burke confirmed Friday she is considering a challenge to Gov. Scott Walker in 2014.
“I’m just considering it and talking to people about it,” Burke told the State Journal.
Burke’s comments are her first public acknowledgement of a potential run. They come about a month after the state Republican Party filed a complaint against her and the Democratic Party over a poll that was conducted to gauge voter interest in her potential candidacy.
Burke may have a bit more credibility against Walker at least from her background and wealth:
http://host.madison.com/...
Burke is a former Commerce Department secretary and Trek Bicycle executive who first ran for elective office in 2012, when she was elected to the Madison School Board. Independently wealthy, she is seen as a possible threat to Walker, who has raised millions from conservatives nationally and is the only governor to survive a recall attempt.
She also was board president for the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County and along with her father’s foundation has donated millions to local causes. She spent more than $128,000 on her School Board election.
In addition, according to Former Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Joe Wineke, Burke can pose a real threat to Walker:
http://host.madison.com/...
Former Democratic Party chairman Joe Wineke said whoever runs against Walker will be able to tap millions of dollars in donations from across the country.
Burke could be a huge problem for Walker, Wineke added.
“When it comes down to it, she’s a woman, with business acumen,” he said. “She tends to show a fiery independent streak and a caring streak.”
And it shows according to this bit of information:
http://host.madison.com/...
Republicans have moved quickly to paint Burke as an “out-of-touch liberal millionaire.”
“Burke was part of the failed administration that left Wisconsin with billion dollar budget deficits, double-digit tax hikes, and massive job loss — a mess that was fixed by Governor Walker,” Republican Party of Wisconsin spokesman Jesse Dougherty said.
Walker recently sent out a fundraising appeal warning of an unnamed wealthy, ultra-liberal candidate planning to challenge him. UW-La Crosse political science professor Joe Heim, who received the letter, said it was a clear shot at Burke.
“The general assumption is she could raise huge amounts of money,” Heim said.
In response to Walker’s fundraising letter, Burke said, “That’s the type of politics they play.”
So it really does seem that Wisconsin Republicans are quick to attack Mary Burke on issues which they may think Scott Walker has resolved but in turn has actually made Wisconsin worse off.
I mean really, how many times have we heard the "out-of-touch liberal" label before? And who has it come from?
Braindead Republicans that offer no substantive, meaningful dialog to the public discourage. That's your answer.
What do you think. Do we have a real shot with Mary Burke being a potential candidate? Or can we do better?