Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) has a new pair of ads in the Wisconsin recall, going after the two most prominent Democrats running in the primary to try to kick him out of office. The ads’ uniting theme: that each of the Dems would take Wisconsin “backwards” from the progress made under Walker.
One ad goes after Walker’s opponent from 2010, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
“For eight years, Tom Barrett has led Milwaukee backwards,” the announcer says. “Under Barrett, Milwaukee has had one of the worst job-creation records of any big city in the U.S. Barrett’s city has one of the worst graduation rates in the country. And Barrett raised taxes on working families, in seven out of the last eight years. We can’t afford to let Tom Barrett take us back.”
The Barrett campaign released a response from communications director Phil Walzak:
“For Scott Walker to attack anyone on jobs loss is not just shamelessly hypocritical, it’s comically absurd. Under Walker’s failed leadership, Wisconsin lost more jobs last year than any other state in the nation. Amazingly, Scott Walker helped kill jobs at a manufacturing plant in Milwaukee just last month. Instead of focusing on jobs, Walker has decided instead to use his time as governor to wage an ideological civil war on Wisconsin, and it’s why voters will toss him from office in June and elect Tom Barrett.”
The other ad attacks former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who has picked up the support of organized labor in the primary.
“Kathleen Falk says she wants to take Wisconsin back. But back to what?” the announcer says. “As Dane County Executive, Kathleen Falk raised property taxes every single year — an increase of over 80 percent. Spending went up over 70 percent. And the unemployment rate tripled. Now Falk says she wants to undo the reforms that balanced Wisconsin’s budget. Going back to Kathleen Falk’s way of doing things? That’s no way to move Wisconsin forward.”
The Falk campaign released a response from communications director Scot Ross:
“Under Gov. Scott Walker, Wisconsin lost more jobs than any state in the nation last year. In contrast, Kathleen Falk balanced 14 straight budgets with a self-imposed landmark spending cap and during her tenure, her county grew nearly 30,000 jobs — the most in the state. Kathleen’s unmatched record of bringing people together, finding solutions and getting the job done is why Scott Walker has resorted to attacking and distorting her record. The fact is: Gov. Walker failed Wisconsin. Kathleen Falk is the candidate with the proven experience and she has built the big tent of support needed to win and restore transparency, accountability and honesty to the governor’s office.”
The Democratic primary will be held on May 8; the general election on June 5.
