Wisconsin Recall: Obama Fundraising Off Of Scott Walker's Win

Obama Campaign Cites Scott Walker Win In Fundraising Appeal

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Obama campaign is warning supporters that unless they donate more money to the president's reelection, what happened in Tuesday's Wisconsin recall election may happen in November.

"What just happened in Wisconsin wasn't an accident," reads an email sent by Obama campaign manager Jim Messina on Wednesday. "Republican Governor Scott Walker and his allies outspent the Democratic challenger nearly EIGHT to ONE -- and one of the most unpopular governors in the country managed to hold on."

In one of the most symbolically important races of 2012, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) on Tuesday defeated a Democratic- and labor-led effort to oust him from office. Walker beat Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) by about 7 percentage points.

President Barack Obama endorsed Barrett immediately after the mayor won the Democratic primary in May, although he did not stump for Barrett -- much to the chagrin of many Wisconsin Democrats. Obama's campaign focused on providing grassroots support to the Wisconsin Democratic Party, sending out get-out-the-vote messages through social media.

While the Obama campaign did not directly contribute money or raise funds for the Barrett campaign, the Democratic National Committee contributed $1.4 million, and Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) went out to campaign for Barrett. The DNC gets funding, in part, from the Obama Victory Fund, a joint account for the Obama campaign and the committee.

A week before the Wisconsin recall election, White House press secretary Jay Carney mistakenly told reporters that he didn't believe Obama had endorsed anyone in the recall race, resulting in the campaign having to correct the record.

The email from the Obama campaign about Wisconsin came one day before Messina sent out a separate fundraising email, announcing that Mitt Romney's campaign beat them in fundraising in May. Invoking Wisconsin is no doubt an attempt to fire up the base and remind supporters what could happen in November if Democrats lose ground in the money game to Republicans.

"Walker was challenged because he's spent the last year and a half promoting special interests and Republican ideologues while taking away a seat at the table for middle-class families," reads Messina's email. "But when his job was on the line, those same interest groups repaid the favors -- and were willing to spend nearly eight times as much money as the Democratic candidate and his allies raised. This is the playbook Mitt Romney used in primary after primary against Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich. ... Now, imagine this same scenario playing out again in Wisconsin in November, and in Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Nevada, and the rest of the battleground states."

Read the full Obama-Biden Wisconsin email below:

What just happened in Wisconsin wasn't an accident.

Republican Governor Scott Walker and his allies outspent the Democratic challenger nearly EIGHT to ONE -- and one of the most unpopular governors in the country managed to hold on.

This result is direct confirmation that all the outside money that's poured into elections this cycle can and will change their outcome. And it's exactly what could happen on the national stage unless we can close the gap between special interests and ordinary people.

Please donate $15 or more to support President Obama and make sure people, not special interests, decide this election.

Walker was challenged because he's spent the last year and a half promoting special interests and Republican ideologues while taking away a seat at the table for middle-class families. But when his job was on the line, those same interest groups repaid the favors -- and were willing to spend nearly eight times as much money as the Democratic candidate and his allies raised.

This is the playbook Mitt Romney used in primary after primary against Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich.

His ad buys were overwhelmingly negative, and he and his backers poured money into whatever state was next until they got the result they wanted.

Now, imagine this same scenario playing out again in Wisconsin in November, and in Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Nevada, and the rest of the battleground states.

The other side has the money. They know they can buy the election if they spend it. And they are being told every day by Mitt Romney that he will do exactly what they want him to.

We can stop them.

Please donate today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Wisconsin

Thanks,

Messina

Jim Messina
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

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