Dead Heat in Wisconsin Supreme Court Election

[TacticalPeek]

Source: NYT


By MONICA DAVEY

DELAFIELD, Wis. — A contest for the Wisconsin Supreme Court that some voters viewed as a referendum on the state’s Republican leaders and their cuts to collective bargaining remained locked in a virtual tie in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

Until emotions boiled over in the state capital weeks ago on questions over labor unions, public workers and budget cutting, Justice David T. Prosser, who was seen by some as part of a conservative majority on the court, had been widely expected to coast to a second 10-year term.

But election officials reported an extremely tight race as the night wore on, with a higher than expected turnout: Justice Prosser was in a dead heat with JoAnne Kloppenburg, an assistant attorney general who was not widely known through the state before this race. With 99 percent of the vote reported, the pair were separated by fewer than 600 votes from among more than 1.4 million cast. The leader had flipped again and again throughout the night.

. . .

Whatever the final result, some Democrats and union supporters here said the results — and the showing of Ms. Kloppenburg, who has never been a judge — should serve as a warning to Mr. Walker and Republican lawmakers as they carve out more of their agenda.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/us/politics/07wisconsin.html

[Skip_In_Boulder]

1. It could be awhile before we know the results in this election.

MMFlint Michael Moore
Here's what we do know: Feb primary: Prosser 55%, Kloppenburg 25%. April runoff: Prosser 50%, Kloppenburg 50%. Stunning rebuke of Repub Guv.

[NeoConsSuck]

3. Even if we lose, we win

The recall candidates are probably shitting their pants right now.

[TacticalPeek]

4. Them next.

:hippie:

[AllTooEasy]

7. No, it still sucks. O-Prosser is a tool.

[still_one]

12. I don't know about that. This is for the Supreme Court, and it could if the results do not go our

way it could jeopardize a lot of things for labor

[iwishiwas]

25. Yes, the mojo will be deminished for the recalls. (I think)

[still_one]

46. That is a different story. I still think the recalls are very worrisome to the repukes /nt

[Bandit]

51. I like your optimism but what this shows is the majority of voters in Wisconsin are still voting Rep

No one will be recalled unless it is some of the Democratic Senators that fled the state..Reality often times sucks..

[WildEyedLiberal]

87. You have an odd definition of "the majority"

Since Kloppenburg is apparently up by a few hundred votes, and in either case the vote is insanely close. But thanks for playing into the RW meme that a 10 vote margin represents a resounding conservative mandate :eyes:

[Critters2]

114. Recalls are by district, not statewide. State senators who pissed off

their constituents still have reason for concern.

[Doctor_J]

110. No

This should be a bellwether for the rest. If the dems can't pull this out with all of that anger, it's over.

[TacticalPeek]

2. -356

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=823664&mesg_id=824141

[eowyn_of_rohan]

32. GREAT NEWS to wake up to!! Thank you Dunn County!

http://dunncountywi.govoffice2.com/vertical/Sites/%7B8D65D186-760D-414B-890C-7C4376A23107%7D/uploads/%7BE4AC129D-C3C7-4ED9-B527-151C95E85EA3%7D.PDF

[golfguru]

5. With 99% precincts reporting Prosser ahead by only 550

Dane (Madison) & Milwaukee counties have not reported all precincts.
I think they will put Klopenburg over to the win column. I am sure
they will come up with enough votes to win.

[Tx4obama]

6. Prosser ahead by only 356

The rest of Dunn County came in after The AP went to bed.

Update - Dunn County

Kloppenburg gains another 229 votes from final Dunn county numbers: http://bit.ly/e7JovI Lead down to 356 votes. 32 precincts left.

[FreeState]

8. Kloppenburg picking up more votes! Now just 171 behind!

Final word for now: Just in -- Kloppenburg picking up more votes! Now just 171 behind! Fingers crossed. Good news in the morning, Santa?

http://mobile.twitter.com/mmflint

[jimlup]

47. Damn! I was thinking she had won when I went to bed last night

[Action]

49. Me Too

Go Tigers!

[lonestarnot]

69. Me too.

:(

[LawnKorn]

9. Close elections are an opportunity for the Republicans to steal it

With a million or two of Koch money available to 'find' just enough votes for Prosser to win, watch the Repukes carry this one in the end.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

34. They sure are...and they have CREATED many close ones

so we think WE are actually divided right down the middle. Such "polarization".

[glinda]

60. If the results seem close it is easier to cheat. I have no faith after Bush as well as the close MN.

election. Emmer spilled the beans IMHO in his tone of voice and statements.

[geckosfeet]

10. Rethugs don't do warnings. They need to be crushed.

[Sky Masterson]

19. I hate to say it.

But you are right!er, I mean left. :P

[tcaudilllg]

82. Agreed.

[harun]

91. Correct.

[dkf]

11. 10 year term for an elected position to the State Supreme Court?

I'm sorry but this is an awful way to pick a supreme court.

[still_one]

13. and if we lose, it is even worse /nt

[TxVietVet]

17. The best court the Chamber of Commerce could buy.

[Posteritatis]

26. I'm squicked out by the idea of elected judiciaries at all. (nt)

[dkf]

107. Yup.

[flyingfysh]

14. Are there absentee votes to be counted?

If so, those generally lean Democratic.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

36. Milwaukee started counting theirs around midnight - not sure if they finished-nt

[tclambert]

15. If the Republican wins by one vote, they will claim a mandate and call it a repudiation of

the anti-Walker backlash. Publicly, the propaganda machine will try to convince the masses that "there's nothing going on here." Only in private campaign planning sessions will they admit their fears.

We need the win. And we need the recalls to succeed. Otherwise, wave good-bye to the remnants of the middle class.

[joshdawg]

23. I agree.

That is a very correct assessment.

I am really surprised this election is even close. It should have been a walkover by Kloppenburg. Makes me wonder what is going on in the "minds" of the Wisconsin voters.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

40. +1 -nt

[iwishiwas]

16. Crap, another 10 years of that Arrogant Prosser/walker will do the

people of the state in. crap!!

[TxVietVet]

18. Just tune in to hear Charlie Psycho on WISN and see if he's paranoid.

The great conservanazi adulterer. How's that opera singer working out for you, Charlie? Been caught with a new gal late at night in any parks lately?

That Charley. Great christian family values man. Just like Newtie Gingrich. :rant:

[sulphurdunn]

20. You can always depend on the Democrats

to concede the possibility of defeat and then claim a symbolic victory. If the Repug was down 500 votes his side would already have claimed victory, demanded a recount and made plans to change the outcome using any means at their disposal.

[michaz]

21. Something does not make sense. You cannot convince me that there were not enough...

very angry people to push Kloppenburg into this win.

[sofa king]

22. Close enough to steal. Too bad.

(Edit) But expensive as hell, and a damned good way to predict how the GOP is going to try to steal it next year. Keep your eyes open, WI. Observe. Document. Report. And thank you!

[elocs]

54. This is Wisconsin and we have paper ballots that can be recounted.

Sometimes you just lose and the crying about a stolen election every time there is a close race and a Democrat loses gets old.

Yes, it is possible, but I actually live here in Wisconsin and I'm not going to make accusations without proof.

[FJeff]

24. Motivation

Actually, it might be a good thing that it is so close, even if JoAnne loses after a recount. It will keep people active, angry, and energized for the recall efforts.

[Enthusiast]

27. Considering the anti-Walker sentiment

in the state explain to me how this can be close. I thought it would be overwhelmingly in favor of Kloppenburg.

[thoughtcrime1984]

28. I am kind of wondering this as well, but

living in Wisconsin, I see how truly split the populace is. I live in a blue City and County, but certainly see a lot of the red element out there.

[FJeff]

29. Wisconsin

is a very divided and polarized state. There are rural and suburban areas that are strong tea party bases. Remember, we not only elected Bob LaFollette and Russ Feingold, but Joe McCarthy, Ron Johnson and Scott Walker.

[TroglodyteScholar]

35. Unfortunately, even in "interesting" times such as these...

...your average Joe apparently still just doesn't understand or care enough to vote in an election where the biggest race is a seat on the Supreme Court. It's easy to understand why this is the case (no "rock star" candidates), but still hard to accept.

[Goblinmonger]

38. Here's why it's close, in my opinion from red land.

1. As was already said, this state is very divided. Milwaukee and Madison are very blue, but the rural areas are not.
2. Prosser should be killing her in this election. She is an unknown, he is the incumbent. That it is this close is a very good thing.

Do I wish she kicked his ass? Yes. But she can still win this given the wards that are still out.

[Roy Ellefson]

71. tired of generalizations

Being from a rural area of Wisconsin I kind of get tired of the generalization that it is the rural areas against Dane and Milwaukee County. The following rural counties went for Kloppenburg:
Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Chippewa. Crawford, Dunn, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Juneau, Lafayette, Menomonie, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Portage, Richland, Sauk, Trempeleau, Washburn, Wood. The problem for Democrats in Wisconsin lies mainly in the Milwaukee suburbs and the Fox River Valley. Look at the totals from Washington, Waukesha and other similar counties. The rural counties in Western, NW and West Central Wisconsin are solid.

[Goblinmonger]

109. I live in the Fox River Valley

I know it sucks here. But for every rural county you give that went Kloppenburg (which is the reason she won, by the way) you can look to, what, 2 or 3 rural counties that went heavy for Prosser. Waukesha County is clearly a problem. But to say that the majority of the rural areas in Wisconsin aren't red is just not true.

[Roy Ellefson]

111. rural vs. urban

But if you analyze this a bit deeper you will see that the rural counties that went resoundingly for Prosser were in the Eastern part of the state--in fact many were within the Fox River/GB "sphere of influence." Rural counties in the West that went for Prosser were closer including St. Croix and Polk which actually qualify more as suburban rather than rural. Look at the map of Wisconsin--rural areas in NW, West Central and SW Wisconsin were solid for Kloppenburg..,additionally look at Prosser counties in the west like Buffalo...no landslide for Prosser. Barron county--50-50. No, this isn't a rural vs urban situation--it seems to be more regional than demographic. The freaking Eastern Part of the State with the exception of Kenosha and Milwaukee counties are the difference.

[Critters2]

113. The suburbs being red may be the real problem--

Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington Counties are all populous and red.

[Imajika]

66. Much of the anti-Walker sentiment was just in your echo chamber...

Dane County is not all of Wisconsin.

I don't mean that you live in Dane County, just that most of the action and interviews we see and hear were from areas that already opposed Walker and naturally opposed the union busting bill.

The truth is, Walker's union busting actually has far more support in Wisconsin and throughout the nation than many people here want to admit.

That the unions and progressive groups poured so much money into this, were so mobilized and energized, and still only managed a draw is really bad news in my opinion.

[WildEyedLiberal]

89. Because Prosser was the overwheming favorite and the incumbent

You're not going to flip 70% of the population in ANY election, no matter what happens. The fact that this election is this close means that a LOT of people in Wisconsin have woken up.

And don't forget, the teatards have been whipping up their minions and making sure people get to the polls, too - so unfortunately it's not just the pro-union voters heading to the polls.

[wilt the stilt]

30. Vote tallies

Here are the vote tallies by precinct.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2011/by_county/WI_Supreme_Court_0405.html?SITE=AP&SECTION=POLITICS

There are 34 precincts left to be counted and 33 of them are democratic with the smallest percentage of them tracking at 55% democratic. There is one precinct left that votes republican. My gut says klop wins.

[janet118]

44. The AP results have been frozen with Prosser ahead . . .

by 585 since 2:00 AM EDT this morning. Almost all of the counties left were tracking towards Kloppenburg - and Milwaukee has only counted 474 out of 486 precincts. Dane has one precinct left to count and is heavily for Kloppenburg (73% to 27%) and has a large population.

I don't understand why the count is so slow.

[janet118]

48. It's weird that Milwaukee County had 10 precincts come in

and the percentage of lead didn't change (K - 57% to P - 43%), yet Prosser gains 215 votes.

Can someone explain it to me?

[glinda]

61. I think this also happened in MN. Maybe they need time to flip machines?

[The Wizard]

31. Electronic vote counting has

damaged democracy to where elections in the United States of America are an international joke.
"Say goodbye to America; say hello to the world."
(Tim Buckley)

[robcon]

33. "elections in the United States of America are an international joke." No, that post is a joke.

And not a funny one. Anyone who thinks that U.S. elections are not better than most in the world is not paying attention, or is trying to grind an ax on the outcome, not the process, IMO.

There are problems. But the U.S. election system is not a joke.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

37. As I recall, the 2000 election was an international joke

I remember European newspapers commenting on the Florida situation, with Jeb Bush the Gov., "delivering" the state to his brother...and our Supreme "justices" delivering the Presidency to the Republican... it was a joke and a VERY BAD ONE.

Since the 2004 election was as tainted, it has been hard to trust the system. With Diebold/ES&S counting the votes, no paper trail, and rigid recount rules, it is pretty frustrating.

[Gin]

74. remembering the 2000 theft...when the race was called for Gore early..

shrub came out and made an appearance which was very unusual....to me...that was the signal his people needed to make sure the fix was in...Grand Theft President.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

108. interesting that Prosser did the same thing last night.

I thought that was odd - inappropriate even. Imagine that may have been a signal too?

[valerief]

39. Oy

:crazy:

Yeah. We don't suck the worst is something to be proud of.

[iemitsu]

43. US elections are a joke.

being unwilling to admit demonstrates a certain lack of information about our recent elections and about how the world views our democracy.
i would like it to be different but its not.

[glinda]

62. Most important thing is the next big elections. I don't know how this can be fixed.

[fasttense]

41. The vote is closer than 0.5%. I think I see a recount in the near future.n/t

[eowyn_of_rohan]

42. Democrats claim victory in Wisconsin. Prosser lead within the margin of fraud

from a Tweet

[Sky Masterson]

45. updated

D. Prosser (i) J. Kloppenburg
736,878 736,043 updated 3606/3630 reporting

[slackmaster]

50. Wow, a squeaker. Would there be an automatic manual recount for such a close result?

In California I believe the threshold for that is .5%.

[Auntie Bush]

52. Kloppenburg is ahead by 24 votes.

:scared:

[janet118]

53. Where did you see that?

I'm using AP link and according to that Prosser is 835 ahead. Do you have a better source for results?

[Auntie Bush]

56. From Sky Masterson on DU

D. Prosser (i) J. Kloppenburg
736,878 736,043 updated 3606/3630 reporting

[janet118]

Hate to bum you out but . . .

736,878 P
736,043 K
equals Prosser in lead by 835 votes

You were reading nos. for reporting precincts

[elocs]

55. The election is close, but look at the counties where most are a blowout one way or the other.

It's either Kloppenburg thumping Prosser, or Prosser thumping Kloppenburg, but few counties are just a few percentage points different.

[elleng]

68. Right, Ashland, Crawford + Milwaukee all 'blowout' Klop counties,

and still missing precincts, according to

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2011/by_county/WI_Supreme_Court_0405.html?SITE=AP&SECTION=POLITICS

[apnu]

73. Is this a straight up popular election or is there some kind of EC to consider? (nt)

[elleng]

78. straight up

[spooky3]

84. Now that site shows all precincts except three-2 in red counties

And 1 in slight blue, are recorded, with a small lead for K. I don't know if all the absentee ballots have been counted.

[elocs]

57. At 8:30 WI Public Radio just said Prosser had an 835 lead. n/t

[DFW]

58. IF Prosser is declared the victor by even one vote

Notice I said "declared the victor," and not "wins the election" as they are not always synonymous.

But IF he is declared the victor, wanna bet Walker will say the people of Wisconsin have upheld his
mandate to rape and pillage his state like he and the Kochs want to?

[Freddie Stubbs]

64. Did Walker endorse Prosser?

[DFW]

67. No idea. I've been overseas until Sunday

But they are no strangers, from what I hear (BIL from Madison)

[Arugula Latte]

72. I think he said he was going to vote for Prosser.

[WheelWalker]

59. On Wisconsin !!!

[Mr. Sparkle]

63. I cant believe this thing is even close. thats f***** up !

[elleng]

65. As I see it, 3 >Klop counties are still missing precincts

(Ashland, Crawford, Milwaukee) so she's going to get it.

(Not counting absentees.)

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2011/by_county/WI_Supreme_Court_0405.html?SITE=AP&SECTION=POLITICS

[lonestarnot]

70. Hope you are right!

[Sky Masterson]

75. updated

D. Prosser (i) J. Kloppenburg
737,224 736,805
Total 3612/3630

[eowyn_of_rohan]

76. That's only 316 apart...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2011/by_county/WI_Supreme_Court_0405.html?SITE=AP&SECTION=POLITICS

[Sky Masterson]

77. 738,228 738,368 klop takes lead

:)

[Iliyah]

81. If she wins

the gopers will blame it on Acorn.

I think she will pull this one out.

[RedCloud]

83. When an unknown beats an institution they should STFU!

[eowyn_of_rohan]

79. She's Ahead Again!!

738,228 P
738, 368 GO Kloppenberg

[RedCloud]

80. Kloppenburg ahead by over 100! 10:30 update.

She went against an institution and was virtually unknown.

Yupi! Yupi!

[Sky Masterson]

85. updated

738,514 738,883
3625/3630 reporting
369 vote lead for Klop

[Sky Masterson]

88. 738,567 739,014 Klop

:D

[handmade34]

93. just checked!

Supreme Court REPORTING 99%
Joanne Kloppenburg 739,381
50%
David Prosser (inc) 739,072
50%

[Generic Other]

86. 300 up now

crossing fingers, chanting incantations, sending psychic vibes...

[BlueDemKev]

90. Outstanding Precincts

1 from Taylor (conservative)
1 from Jefferson (conservative)
2 from Milwaukee (liberal)

WHAT ABOUT THE ABSENTEE BALLOTS??? HAVE THEY BEEN COUNTED AND ADDED TO THE CURRENT TOTALS??

[BlueDemKev]

92. Oops...1 more

Juneau County (a divided county) still has 1 precinct unreported.

[elocs]

95. How absentee ballots are counted in Wisconsin:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x825167

[BlueDemKev]

98. Juneau is 100% In

...and our lead is about 250 or so. Still waiting on Taylor's last precinct, Jefferson's last precinct, and Milwaukee's last TWO precincts!

Come on, Kloppenburg!!!!!

:bounce:

[reformist2]

94. I don't believe the results - if something seems too dramatic to be true, it isn't.

[elocs]

96. I believe the results and I live in WI. If you can actually prove something, please do.

Suspicions are a dime a dozen. We have paper ballots here in Wisconsin that can be recounted. Perhaps there are more than a few thousand people here this morning in Wisconsin that would like to have seen Kloppenburg win but they didn't bother to vote. Perhaps this is a more simple explanation than voter fraud.

[reformist2]

104. We live in a corrupt country now, logic tells you to be suspicious.

[L. Coyote]

97. LATEST Details here: I'm declaring the winner in Wisconsin Supreme Court race

I'm declaring the winner in Wisconsin Supreme Court race
Tue Apr-05-11 07:35 PM PST
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x821883

[BlueDemKev]

100. And if you're wrong, Mr. Coyote....

...I'm going to turn into the Road Runner and push you off a cliff! (Just kidding!)

[BlueDemKev]

99. Taylor's In! We're 224 votes up with 3 precincts left!!!

2 precincts from Milwaukee and 1 precinct from conservative Jefferson. C'mon Milwaukee--PUT HER OVER THE TOP!!!!!!

[AleksS]

101. All about where in Milwaukee...

Precincts remaining:

2 Milwaukee (57% K so far)
1 Jefferson (58% P so far)

Doggone this is a nailbiter. Milwaukee has some seriously red precincts, and some seriously blue ones. And who knows about Jefferson?

It's all about where in Milwaukee those last 2 precincts are.

I hope the ballots are securely gaurded.

[BlueDemKev]

103. Any way we can find out?

What the two outstanding Milwaukee precincts are?

Hell, I can't take this anymore !!!!!!!!

:puke:

[AleksS]

105. Unfortunately I don't think we can!

I'm with you though! I posted in another thread that after 13 hours working recall petioning for Lazich yesterday, then a sleepless night, my whole consciousness is just a battle between sleep deprivation and anxiety-nerves.

"Election...you're tearing me apaaaaart!"

[BlueDemKev]

106. Honestly, I'm SOOOO tired of this!

If more progressives in Wisconsin had simply gone out to vote last November, we wouldn't even be killing ourselves right now over this SC race! And how frustrating that so many African-Americans in Milwaukee didn't bother to vote yesterday. This country must really want to screw itself.

[kanrok]

102. I am predicting that Kloppenburg will win by

267 votes.

That is all.

[harun]

112. KLOPPENBURG WINS

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/06/964040/-Lets-get-our-messaging-straight:KLOPPENBURG-WINS!!!