Wisconsin Democrats are frustrated with the lack of national support in the effort to recall Gov. Scott Walker, and in what's likely an effort to pressure the Democratic National Committee to pitch in, they're
airing their frustrations to Greg Sargent:
“We are frustrated by the lack of support from the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Governors Association,” a top Wisconsin Democratic Party official tells me. “Scott Walker has the full support and backing of the Republican Party and all its tentacles. We are not getting similar support.”
“Considering that Scott Walker has already spent $30 million and we’re even in the polls, this is a winnable race,” the Wisconsin Dem continues. “We can get outspent two to one or five to one. We can’t get spent 20 to one.”
While the Obama campaign has sent Wisconsin supporters an
email about the recall and has been working on ensuring that Wisconsin Democrats know how they will be affected by the Republican war on voters, those efforts don't come with financial help. Prior to the primary that made Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett the Democratic nominee against Walker, the Democratic Governors Association contributed to an
ad campaign hitting Walker for his record of losing, not creating, jobs. Unions, of course, have committed resources to this election. But all that pales beside the huge amounts of money the
Republican Party and
the Koch brothers, among others, have put into keeping Walker in office. With polls showing few undecided voters, Wisconsin Democrats need help funding a major turnout effort, and that help has not been forthcoming from the DNC despite requests.
That this is a race with national significance is something Republicans are fully tuned into, and they're working to increase its national significance. The Democratic Party can't somehow make Wisconsin insignificant by not putting money into it—it's a win or lose proposition. Win, and you get the chance to undo some of the damage Scott Walker has done to date. Lose, and Walker gets the chance to make it worse—and especially to do his best to prevent Democratic voters from voting in November, forcing the Obama campaign and other Democrats to concentrate resources on Wisconsin that could be spent elsewhere if the governor of Wisconsin is Tom Barrett rather than Scott Walker.
The key to beating Scott Walker on June 5 is having a well-funded, effective GOTV operation. Please give $3 to Tom Barrett to help make that happen.
For more discussion, see Scarce's diary.