Wisconsin Recall: A Big Win for Big Money

In the wake of Wisconsin’s recall vote, much of the buzz is about what Gov. Scott Walker’s victory means for the future of organized labor and a Democratic Party dependent on the unions’ shrinking political muscle. But the more glaring takeaway is that money talks – or, as Politico puts it, “shouts.” Reporting from the Center for Public Integrity and Mother Jones, among others, reveals the vast financial advantage that Walker held over Democratic Mayor of Milwaukee Tom Barrett:

• Barrett raised $3.9 million; Walker $30.1 million, for a 7-1 advantage
• 66 percent of Walker’s money came from out of state; 26 percent of Barrett’s did
• Factoring in money spent by outside groups, a total of $63.5 million was spent on the race, $45 million of it from Walker’s
• In the days leading up to Tuesday’s vote, the Walker-supporting Republican Governors Association spent $619,000 on TV ads, Facebook ads, and robocalls; the pro-Barrett Greater Wisconsin spent $98,000 on online and TV ads
• The maximum individual donation Walker was allowed to accept under state law was unlimited
• The maximum individual donation Barrett could accept was $10,000