The White House is making a last-minute show of support for Democratic nominee Tom Barrett in the Wisconsin recall.
President Obama himself never visited Wisconsin for the recall campaign. Barrett did, however, eventually get a late boost from other big-name national Democrats, including campaign appearances by DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz Democratic Governors Association Chairman Martin O’Malley, and finally a stop from former President Bill Clinton.
Monday night, the Obama campaign posted a message on Twitter — carrying a “-bo” tag at the end, indicating Obama, not staffers, wrote it personally:
It’s Election Day in Wisconsin tomorrow, and I’m standing by Tom Barrett. He’d make an outstanding governor. -bo
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 4, 2012
The Obama campaign posted a video Tuesday on YouTube featuring a young canvasser, identified as Laura H., telling viewers to help get out the vote:
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney was emphasized Monday at his daily press briefing that Obama “stands by” Barrett despite not having personally campaigned with him:
Q: Tomorrow in Wisconsin — a big contest. Why didn’t the president travel there?
MR. CARNEY: The president endorsed Tom Barrett right after he won the primary. The president supports him, stands by him. And I think if you talk to the campaign I’m sure they can give you more details about how that support is manifested. But you have a unique situation in Wisconsin where the event — the election is a result of a recall petition. But the president absolutely stands by Tom Barrett and hopes he prevails.
Q: Does the president think that he would not have been able to help?
MR. CARNEY: Look, I think that there are a lot of factors in that context that make it unique — how it came about, for one thing; the money being spent, for another. But the fact is the president has made clear all along his opposition to those who would take away workers’ rights, to actions that would take away or diminish workers’ rights, and he’s also made clear his support for Tom Barrett.
