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Behind Wisconsin Democrats’ Million-Signature Show of Force in Walker Recall Effort

Asked why he signed a petition to recall Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, George Shiver, 55, emptied a bag of prescription medications onto the coffee table in his untidy Eau Claire apartment. “These are the drugs I take to stay alive every month,” says the single father of four, who is on disability, food stamps and Medicaid.

MarkBenjamin

An Unlikely Campaign Manager: The Story of Herman Cain’s Cigarette-Puffing Political Guru

If you didn’t recognize Mark Block at the beginning of this week, chances are you do now. He is Herman Cain’s campaign manager, perhaps better known as the guy with the mustache in Cain’s viral campaign video who says, “Herman Cain will put United back in the United States of America,” before taking a drag [...]

In Wisconsin Recall Fight, Republicans Hold the Line

Darren Hauck / Reuters

Wisconsin Democrats knocked off two GOP state senators on Tuesday night, exacting a hard-fought political price on Republican lawmakers for restricting collective bargaining rights of state and local employees. National advocacy groups funneled tens of millions of dollars into nine races, seven of which have now been decided, turning a parochial skirmish into an all-out [...]

What Wealth Buys In Politics: A Crank Call To Gov. Scott Walker

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker got pranked. A talk show host, claiming to be conservative moneybags David Koch, called up the governor to talk about the union showdown in the state. Walker did not really say much different in private than he would have in public. (“Yeah, good stuff,” Walker says about Andrew Brietbart, at one [...]

Proof Russ Feingold Is Not Just Another Democrat

Wisconsin incumbent Sen. Russ Feingold is bucking the trend and running a straight-up pro-health care reform spot. The ad itself is not all that remarkable, but it stands out in a year when Democrats who voted for reform are trying hard to talk about other issues, while Democrats who voted against it are touting their [...]

Tuesday’s Primaries

Tuesday is primary day in seven states and the District of Columbia. This will be the last major primary before the midterm elections (only one state remains after this: Hawaii on Sept. 18). Even this late in the game there are still some fascinating races to watch. Here are five: Mike Castle v. Christine O’Donnell, [...]

Obey Bows Out

House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, 71, today announced he would not seek reelection after more than 20 terms in office. The Wisconsin Democrat’s departure is the latest example of veteran Democrats deciding to withdraw rather than face tough reelections — a troubling sign for House speaker Nancy Pelosi for whom retention of the House [...]

Obey Bows Out

UPDATE: Double posted on Jay, see above.

McCain Curtails Ads in NH and WI

A Democratic source tells TIME that John McCain is stretching his media buys in New Hampshire and Wisconsin, spacing out ads they’ve already bought to last through the rest of the election. The move would mean they would not spend any more ad money in the states, effectively pulling out without taking the hit in [...]

Slinging Cheese Curds

When did Wisconsin get so nasty? In week dominated by tit-for-tat conference calls, mailers and tv spots filled with accusations and counter-punches the Obama campaign said today they expect this is just a preview for the Ohio and Texas contests on March 4. “I would imagine that what your seeing in Wisconsin is just a [...]