The voters of Wisconsin sent a chilling message to President Obama last night by overwhelmingly rejecting Democratic efforts to fire the state’s radical Republican governor.
An ideological battle between public sector workers and governor Scott Walker, a Tea Party standard-bearer, had spawned a bitter, year-long battle that gripped America’s political elite.
Mr Walker’s victory is a significant blow to the President, who won Wisconsin by 14 points in 2008. The White House had hoped that a swing towards the Republicans during the 2010 gubernatorial election would prove to be a temporary glitch in a state that typically leans towards the Democrats.
Click below to listen to Alexandra Frean, our Washington bureau chief, discuss the politics of the Wisconsin recall.
Mitt Romney was among the first to call Mr Walker to congratulate him on his victory. “Tonight’s results will echo beyond the borders of Wisconsin,” he said. “Governor Walker has demonstrated what sound fiscal policies can do to turn an economy around, and I believe that in November voters across the country will demonstrate that they want the same in Washington, D.C.”
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Presidential opinion polls have the candidates within a couple of points but Mr Romney will have to turn a number of blue states, such as Wisconsin, red if he is to evict Mr Obama from the White House.
Sarah Palin said last night’s result was a clear signal that Mr Obama would be relegated to the ranks of one-term presidents. “Obama’s goose is cooked,” she said. “The people spoke and this is good news for all of America.”
Initial exit polls had Mr Walker and Tom Barrett, the mayor of Milwaukee, locked on 50 per cent each but the recall appeared to have been comprehensively defeated with 80 per cent of votes counted late last night.
As Republicans from the national political sphere rushed to claim victory, Mr Walker said it was time “to put our differences aside and find ways to work together to move Wisconsin forward”.
He said he planned to invite politicians from both sides to hold a meeting over burgers and bratwurst to discuss ways to bridge the political divide.
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Mr Walker’s victory will allow him to complete his first term confident that a raft of controversial austerity measures had been blessed with a second mandate. Unions, who led the recall effort, were angry that their collective bargaining rights were quashed along with a raft of cost-cutting measures.
Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, said the result was a “momentous victory” for the party.
“After tonight’s results, Democrats and the Obama campaign are surely nervous,” he said. “Wisconsin Democrats now head into November dispirited and in disarray, while Republicans remain strong and organised, with momentum on our side.”
A great night for Mr Romney continued with a swath of victories in the remaining Republican primaries, where he was effectively running unchallenged. Wins in California, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota ensure that he will have a commanding grasp on the delegates at the convention in Tampa in August.