Republican governor survives recall in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wisconsin (AP) — The Republican governor of Wisconsin beat back a recall challenge Tuesday, winning endorsement of his explosive measure to curb union rights for most public workers and raising hopes that Mitt Romney might make inroads in traditionally Democratic territory in the presidential race.

Gov. Scott Walker, a rising Republican star who enjoys support from the deeply conservative tea party movement, became the first governor in U.S. history to survive a recall attempt with his defeat of his Democratic challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, and the union leaders who rallied for months against his agenda.

With more than 87 percent of precincts reporting, Walker was ahead 54 percent to Barrett's 45 percent, according to returns tabulated by The Associated Press.

Democrats and organized labor spent millions to oust Walker, but found themselves hopelessly outspent by Republicans from across the country who donated record-setting sums to Walker. Republicans hope the victory carries over into November and that their get-out-the-vote effort can help Romney become the first Republican nominee to carry the Midwestern state since Ronald Reagan in 1984.

With the economy the top issue in the presidential election, the victory for Wisconsin conservatives is a boost for Romney who has endorsed budget-slashing, tax-cutting tea party fiscal plans at the national level.

Romney issued a statement saying Walker's victory "will echo beyond the borders of Wisconsin."

Walker "has shown that citizens and taxpayers can fight back — and prevail — against the runaway government costs imposed by labor bosses," Romney said. "Tonight voters said no to the tired, liberal ideas of yesterday, and yes to fiscal responsibility and a new direction."

Wisconsin is a key state in the November presidential election. It is seen as leaning toward Obama, and exit polls showed Obama leading Romney, even though Walker was winning the battle to finish the remainder of his four-year term.

The recall was a rematch of the 2010 governor's race in which Walker rode to victory over Barrett in a Republican wave fueled by tea party voters who advocate smaller government, lower deficits and tax cuts .

Throughout the campaign, Walker maintained his policies set the state on the right economic track. Defeat, he said, would keep other politicians from undertaking such bold moves in the future.

Walker told a crowd of supporters at his campaign headquarters that his victory shows voters want leaders who "stand up and make tough decisions."

The governor said he planned to invite lawmakers to meet as soon as next week to discuss ways to bridge the political divide.

In his concession remarks, Barrett said the state had been left "deeply divided" by the recall battle.

"It is up to all of us, their side and our side, to listen. To listen to each other," Barrett said.

Barrett repeatedly accused Walker of neglecting the needs of the state in the interests of furthering his own political career by making Wisconsin "the tea party capital of the country." He said Walker had instigated a political civil war in Wisconsin that could be quelled only by a change in leadership.

Walker, the 44-year-old son of a minister, ascended into the national spotlight last year when he surprised the state and unveiled plans to plug a $3.6 billion budget shortfall in part by taking away the union rights of most public workers and requiring them to pay more for their health insurance and pension benefits. It was one of his first moves in office.

Democrats and labor leaders saw it as a political tactic designed to gut the power of his political opposition. State Senate Democrats left Wisconsin for three weeks to delay a vote on the measure, as tens of thousands of teachers, state workers and others rallied at the Capitol in protest.

But the tea-party supported fiscal conservative remained steadfast: Walker believed his plan would help him control the state budget, and his opponents could not stop Republicans who control the state Legislature from approving his plans.

Walker went on to sign into law several other measures that fueled calls for a recall, including making deep cuts to public schools and higher education, and requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls.

Both sides mobilized thousands of people and millions of dollars to influence voters, whom polls showed were more divided than ever.

Turnout was strong across the state with few problems reported as some voters waited in line to cast their ballots.

Walker and Republicans outspent Barrett and Democrats $47 million to $19 million, based on the most recent tally by the government watchdog group the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. That made it easily the most expensive in Wisconsin history. The money was spent on an all-out barrage of television ads, direct mail, automated calls and other advertising that permeated the state for months.

Walker used the recall to raise millions from conservative donors and bolster his own political fame in the face of the fight. National Republican groups, including the pro-business Americans for Prosperity and the Republican Governors Association, poured money into the contest.

Unions got behind the recall drive, which started with the collection of more than 900,000 signatures over two months to force the vote. Barrett defeated the union-favored candidate in the Democratic primary in May and then tried to use that to his advantage, while also courting union support. He pledged to call a special legislative session to restore the collective bargaining rights Walker took away.

Obama endorsed Barrett, but did not campaign personally for him, perhaps not wanting to chance being directly associated with what turned out to be a losing effort with five months remaining before the presidential election.

The campaign surrounding the vote produced fuel for opponents of a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that opened the door to unlimited corporate campaign spending.

Also Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and at least three Republicans in state Senate races also survived recalls. Republicans were leading in the other Senate race, the outcome of which will determine which party controls the Senate at least through the end of the year.

The recall also focused as much on Walker's record creating jobs as on the divisive union proposal. Walker promised in 2010 to create 250,000 jobs over four years as governor, and just how many jobs were created under Walker was a major point of contention. Walker relied on new data showing the state added about 23,000 jobs in 2011, while a different survey that Barrett favored found the state had lost about 34,000.

The only other two governors to have faced a recall vote lost, most recently California Gov. Gray Davis, who was defeated by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003.