Supreme Court race still too close to call, Prosser has narrow lead

[Bluebear]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119308059.html

Justice David Prosser clung to a narrow lead over Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg in the state Supreme Court race early Wednesday, after a hard-fought campaign dominated by political forces and outside interest groups.

But even with 99% of the vote counted, fewer than 600 votes - about 0.04% of ballots - separated the candidates. And The Associated Press said early Wednesday that the race was too close to call and that it would take hours or most of the day to get a final tally.

That close margin had political insiders from both sides talking about the possibility of a recount, which Wisconsin has avoided in statewide races in recent decades. Any recount could be followed by lawsuits - litigation that potentially would be decided by the high court.

[FBaggins]

1. Yes, but the precincts still to report are almost all blue.

Of the 34 precincts yet to report, only two are in counties that Prosser won. Many of the remaineder are in counties that went heavily blue.

It's always possible that some red precincts exist in otherwise blue counties, but it still looks like there could be enough.

[michaz]

2. I thought with all that was going on there, that people would be angry enough...

to push Kloppenburg to this win. I sure hope that she can pull it out.

[still_one]

4. You would think so. Why is this election even this close? This does not bode well for the

direction America is going

[n2doc]

5. So much for "progressive power"

We here in the DU bubble think we still can change things in this country. It is far too late for that.

[HereSince1628]

6. We know that doing nothing cannot bring the change we want.

There is never a guarantee of winning (unless your side cheats the voting machines)

Of COURSE this is a partisan board! Why would you think otherwise? We lean left therefore the horizon line is tilted to make the right seem less than it is.


But here's another reality...the R's dropped several _million_ on Advertising and GOTV during the last several days. They didn't expect to need to do that, we took them by surprise. We've cost them.

And people not unlike Badgers can do this all over the nation. And we will drain the R's of resources they thought they had available to them for 2012.

[Brickbat]

10. Not through the courts or elections, anyway.

That's the lesson we must draw.

[HereSince1628]

16. Then what alternative are you implying?

Just curious because the 3 I can think of aren't inherently better than elections and the courts.

[Brickbat]

19. Direct action.

Strikes, work stoppages, and physical protests that don't follow a set time as dictated by a permit.

[HereSince1628]

23. Civil disobedience is reasonable only after the other options

have failed to relieve the oppression.

General strikes in Wisconsin seem unlikely at this time for a variety of reasons that can be summed up in the phrase, we are first working our way through the other options.

[Brickbat]

24. I hear you.

My fear is that when the other options run their course, people will think there's nothing more to be done. That's when the really hard work begins.

[Scuba]

3. I want a hand-counted recount.

[HereSince1628]

This is going to look like the Mn Senate race by the time it is over.

I have no doubt of that.

[mod mom]

21. chain of custody is VERY important as is full public witness in recount.

I hope the Democrats will DEMAND strict chain of custody procedures of records/ballots and remember provisional ballots favor D's so they need to be fought for. They can make or break an election...ask John Kerry:


Did Carville Tip Bush Off to Kerry Strategy (Woodward)


By M.J. Rosenberg | bio




On page 344, Woodward describes the doings at the White House in the early morning hours of Wednesday, the day after the '04 election.

Apparently, Kerry had decided not to concede. There were 250,000 outstanding ballots in Ohio. So Kerry decides to fight. In fact, he considers going to Ohio to camp out with his voters until there is a recount. This is the last thing the White House needs, especially after Florida 2000.

-snip

"Carville told her he had some inside news. The Kerry campaign was going to challenge the provisional ballots in Ohio -- perhaps up to 250,000 of them. 'I don't agree with it, Carville said. I'm just telling you that's what they're talking about.'

-snip
Matalin does, advising Bush that "somebody in authority needed to get in touch with J. Kenneth Blackwell, the Republican Secretary of State in Ohio who would be in charge of any challenge to the provisional votes." An SOS goes out to Blackwell.



http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2006/oct/07/did_carville_tip_bush_off_to_kerry_strategy_woodward


FUNNY THING ABOUT THE ELECTION IN OHIO IN 2004. BLACKWELL TURNED THOSE 250,000 PROVISIONALS INTO 158,000 PVS. FANCY THAT...and of those only 123,000 were counted (78%). The large Democratic counties, however, only saw much lower rates. What happened to those original PVs...ask Ken Blackwell who was rewarded with some prized GOP positions afterward. :mad:

[City Lights]

7. I'm disappointed that it's so close.

I hoped Scut Farkas Walker's radical agenda would have been enough of a wake-up call to give Kloppenburg a decisive win. I'm sure glad I didn't stay up waiting for the race to be called.

[HereSince1628]

8. Have a Kringle, with your morning coffee...you'll feel better

once your blood glucose rises.

People outside Wisconsin don't seem to realize just how much of a come-from-behind race this has been. And it sure looks like Kloppenburg could still win.

[City Lights]

11. Thanks for the dose of reality.

:hi:

It definitely puts things in perspective.

I wish I had a Kringle...:9...I'm certain it would ease my disappointment. :D

[MoDupey]

13. thank you

People don't realize how far she has come in such a little amount of time. The fact that it is even this close is huge.

[Roy Ellefson]

15. remarkable

+1 People need to remember that if this election would have been held in late January-- early February, Prosser would have won 70-30. It is remarkable enough that an unknown Assistant AG with a funny name is this close and will probably win this thing.

[HereSince1628]

17. Yes, it is remarkable and welcome to DU n/t

[Blaq Dem]

9. If it goes to the high courts, how will this work if Prosser IS already on the high court?

High court: WI state supreme court? Must Prosser recuse himself? What's going to happen?

[Motown_Johnny]

12. that was my first thought also

I can only assume he must recuse himself, but I don't know for sure.

[HereSince1628]

14. ass-u-me...I think I'd assume he wouldn't recuse himself...

I've got to do some checking on the rules of how a recount for this office is handled.

[Motown_Johnny]

18. I never did understand

why my assumptions would make an ass out of anyone other than myself.


I suppose we shall see, but if he doesn't recuse himself the public outrage should be devastating.

[HereSince1628]

20. I think the u-me is because typically assumptions in print

affect the author and the reader. But it could just be that the word breaks into 3 nice components.

[Voltaire]

22. On Public Outrage

Republicans don't give a damn about it. If a situation arises where he should recuse himself, you can take it to the bank that he will not.