Armchair Quarterbacking the Recall Election

An essay written by Lisa Subeck, republished here with her permission:

In the recall election to remove Scott Walker, it seems everyone is an armchair quarterback. This is the age of social media, blogs, and news via the internet, so we get a closer look at what the average voter – not just the political commentator – is thinking. In most elections, individuals use these tools to debate the issues and show support for the candidate most closely aligned with their own views. This election is different. As we prepare to go to the polls to choose the Democratic nominee for Governor, voters are focused as much on electability as substance.

There has been no doubt from the beginning that either Kathleen Falk or Tom Barrett will win the primary, and recent polls show Barrett with a significant lead. Is Barrett’s lead thanks to his positions on the issues? Does his lead come from promises made on the campaign trail? Does Barrett have significantly stronger Executive experience? No, no, and no. Barrett’s lead appears a product of perceived electability.

Needless to say, Democrats are desperate to remove Scott Walker from office. Nearly one million of us signed recall petitions to do just that. It is only natural that we want to run the candidate who is most likely to beat Walker in the general election. The question remains, how do we know which candidate is best suited to do so? Enter, armchair quarterbacks.

Some argue Barrett is more likely to beat Walker because Wisconsinites will not elect a woman Governor. Never mind that Kathleen Falk has been breaking glass ceilings her entire life, including being the first woman ever elected Dane County Executive. Ignore the gender gap among voters created by a slew of “War on Women” legislation. Forget that Tammy Baldwin was all but written off by the establishment Democrats when she won her first Congressional race. The good old boys claim we are not ready for a woman Governor, but Kathleen Falk is prepared to prove them wrong. Now is the time to break the glass ceiling in the Governor’s office.

Others claim Falk cannot win because of her labor endorsements. Have they forgotten how the recall began? Do they not remember the hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life who came out to protest when Walker slashed collective bargaining rights for public employees? This election cannot be won without the support of labor. When Act 10 was proposed and later passed, Falk protested alongside the working families of Wisconsin, earning their respect. When the recall began, Falk hit the road and collected signatures with us. Wisconsin voters are looking for a Governor who respects public employees and will restore our rights, and Kathleen Falk is the only candidate who has presented a plan to do so.

Falk’s electability has been questioned because she is a “Dane County Liberal.” The conventional wisdom says that makes her less appealing in other parts of the state. Well, conventional wisdom isn’t always so wise. In other statewide elections, Falk has done better than Barrett and garnered more votes than he did in counties statewide. Barrett only won 13 counties in his last statewide race, while Falk led in more than 30 counties when she ran for Attorney General. Plenty of Dane County liberals have been elected to statewide office including Russ Feingold and Jim Doyle. Meanwhile, the last Democrat with strong Milwaukee ties to be elected Governor appears to be George W. Peck in 1891, more than a century ago.

Finally, many claim we need a candidate who will appeal to moderates and independents traditionally viewed as swing voters. However, this election is anything but traditional. Beating Scott Walker requires getting every single petition signer – along with their friends, relatives, and neighbors who did not get around to signing – out to vote on June 5. Kathleen Falk has the kind of appeal needed to motivate the base and win the recall. She is a tireless campaigner who got in the race early. Though no candidate in this race is likely to out-fundraise Scott Walker, Falk has a reputation as one of the best fundraisers among Democratic candidates. Both Barrett and Falk have broad appeal among the Democratic voters who will be crucial to beating Scott Walker. Some like Barrett for this or Falk for that. Others hate Falk for this or Barrett for that. In the end, though, it is the ability to turn out our own base – not appeal to independents – that will determine the Democratic nominee’s ability to win against Walker.

So, here’s a little armchair quarterbacking of my own. The key to beating Scott Walker is having a plan that goes beyond June 5. Kathleen Falk is the only candidate with a plan to not only stop the bleeding caused by Scott Walker but to repair the damage Walker has done to workers’ rights, women’s rights, economic security, our environment, and more. If she wins Tuesday’s primary, Kathleen Falk can win against Scott Walker on June 5th and put Wisconsin back on track.

Remember, a candidate is only unelectable as long as we refuse to elect her.