Yesterday Wisconsin voters went to the polls to vote on, among other things, a state supreme court race that many have painted as a poll on Governor Scott Walker's governorship to date. As the tally now stands, less than a handful of votes separates the progressive challenger from the conservative incumbent.
The spinmeisters from both side are already out in force. On the progressive side, the 200 vote lead ahead of deadlock is being hailed as either an outright victory or, if a recount reverses the outcome, a moral victory. Pundits and commentators have stated that it shows how unpopular Walker's union-busting legislation is with the electorate and, if not for the political muscle of the unions themselves, their champion wouldn't have had a prayer.
While that may buck up the spirits of those who have been fighting against Walker and the Republican-controlled legislature, the numbers don't paint such a rosy picture. No, what I think that this particular race shows is that Wisconsin voters are split down the middle in their political perspectives.
It must be remembered that Scott Walker came into office in January as the result of a close vote. Out of 2.1 million votes cast, he won by less than 125,000 (52% to 48%). Here we are a few months later and the vote again is near the 50/50 level. With all the local and national media attention the state has faced over the past two months, one would think that, if Walker's initiatives were as unpopular as Wisconsin progressives would like us to believe, their candidate should have won in a landslide.
Yet, here we are with another nailbiter on our hands. Call me a pessimist, if you like, but a narrow victory OR defeat is not the kind of message that should buck up one's spirits. All it should tell us is that the American electorate is deeply divided.
The spinmeisters from both side are already out in force. On the progressive side, the 200 vote lead ahead of deadlock is being hailed as either an outright victory or, if a recount reverses the outcome, a moral victory. Pundits and commentators have stated that it shows how unpopular Walker's union-busting legislation is with the electorate and, if not for the political muscle of the unions themselves, their champion wouldn't have had a prayer.
While that may buck up the spirits of those who have been fighting against Walker and the Republican-controlled legislature, the numbers don't paint such a rosy picture. No, what I think that this particular race shows is that Wisconsin voters are split down the middle in their political perspectives.
It must be remembered that Scott Walker came into office in January as the result of a close vote. Out of 2.1 million votes cast, he won by less than 125,000 (52% to 48%). Here we are a few months later and the vote again is near the 50/50 level. With all the local and national media attention the state has faced over the past two months, one would think that, if Walker's initiatives were as unpopular as Wisconsin progressives would like us to believe, their candidate should have won in a landslide.
Yet, here we are with another nailbiter on our hands. Call me a pessimist, if you like, but a narrow victory OR defeat is not the kind of message that should buck up one's spirits. All it should tell us is that the American electorate is deeply divided.
I agree with your analysis. There's no mandate or message when you only win by a couple percent. But that's spin and pundetry for you.
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