Nearly four years ago, a deft, bold stroke of a pen enacted a law that turned newly elected Gov. Scott Walker into perhaps the most divisive man in Wisconsin history. Today, he is one of the most highly revered politicians in the country and on the short list for a 2016 Republican Party presidential nomination.
In between, he was vilified and lionized; berated for backward policies and championed for passing laws that would grow the state’s economy; successful in a recall election because of bottomless campaign offers and successful in a recall election because the state was finally headed in the right direction under his command. It depends on who you ask. What isn’t up for debate is who is still in office and who came out of the intensely bitter political bickering of the last four years on top. It was the very efforts to paint him in as negative a light as possible and prematurely remove him from office that served as unexpected but welcome PR for the ambitious Milwaukee father of two, propelling him to national stardom and local invincibility.
Now, as Wisconsin approaches the regularly scheduled gubernatorial election later this year, it seems Walker is too big to fail. His challenger, Mary Burke, is by all standards a good candidate. The former Trek bicycle executive, who has little to no political background, brings to the table someone who knows business and hasn’t been tainted by unsavory partisan politics. She is the sort of candidate Republicans usually run with, and could give Democrats considerable crossover appeal (if undecided voters even exist anymore here).
She also is a woman, and given the highly conservative social agenda of state Republicans, she is certainly appealing. But, besides the perhaps insurmountable stature of the man she seeks to beat, there is one big problem: No one knows who she is.
The election is fast approaching, yet there has not been any of the build-up that has characterized recent elections here. People simply haven’t heard of or seen her anywhere. Also, the fact no one else from the Democratic Party has decided to run in the primary is bad news for Burke. A lack of primary leads to lack of exposure. While sometimes bitter primary elections can hurt a candidate in the general election, in this case, any publicity—good or bad—would give voters a chance to get to know her name.
Then there’s the issue of money. The recall election was the most expensive in state history, and we may now see people apprehensive about giving again, particularly on the losing, Democratic side. And national money sources don’t seem to think a Burke candidacy is worth backing, especially when there are several decisive House and Senate elections across the country that could tip in either direction.
While Wisconsin became a globally recognized hotbed for liberal activism just a few years ago, this time around there is hardly any progress. The state’s once formative progressive legion has been reduced to a few protesters that still picket around the Capitol building. Perhaps years of persistent dissent has made them exhausted, but there is little doubt they aren’t making things happen with their mouth or their wallet. It all may seem bleak, but instead of giving up, Democrats must now turn to areas of the state where Walker’s star doesn’t shine so bright and make gains in the state legislature. There a progressive agenda still stands a chance.
All this being said, the campaigning will pick up considerable steam this spring and summer. Even if Burke runs a masterful campaign, it will be too little, too late. In an effort to execute Walker—politically, of course—Democrats shot themselves in the foot. Until that wound heals or a candidate appears (Russ Feingold?) who can outrun Walker, progressives will have to gaze up at the statehouse for at least the next four years and wonder what could have been.
Do you agree with The Daily Cardinal Editorial Board that it will be difficult for Mary Burke to lead a successful fight against Gov. Scott Walker? What do you think she could do to improve her chances? Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
