Hijacking Recall 2012

This Virginia-based group supports Republican candidates for state offices around the country. The group doled out about $936,000 for independent expenditures in the 2010 fall elections – the first time it sponsored outside electioneering activities in Wisconsin to help take out a Democratic legislative leader.  The following year, the committee spent an estimated $900,000 on independent expenditures and phony issue ads in the 2011 Senate recall elections and in an Assembly special election in an unsuccessful effort to elect Republican candidates.

 

During the second round of recall elections in 2012, the committee sponsored a 30-second ad to support Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch in a June 5 recall election where she faces Democrat Mahlon Mitchell.  Kleefisch along with GOP Governor Scott Walker and four Republican Senate seats were targeted for recalls because of the governor's successful effort to restrict public employee collective bargaining rights. 

 

In April the group sponsored two 30-second television ads - here and here - via WisPolitics.com - against Democratic candidates in two of the Senate recall races.  One of the ads accused Democratic Representative Donna Seidel of Wausau of voting against numerous job creation bills that could have helped the economy and stemmed job losses in recent years.  Seidel is a candidate for the 29th Senate District seat formerly held by Republican Senator Pam Galloway.  Galloway resigned after a recall was approved so an election will still be held for the seat.  The other ad accused former one-term Democratic Representative Kristen Dexter of voting to increase government spending and taxes when she was in the Assembly.  Dexter, of Eau Claire, is challenging GOP Senator Terry Moulton of Chippewa Falls.

 

The committee also sponsored a mailing - here via the huffingtonpost.com - that attacked former Democratic Senator John Lehman of Racine for supporting the 2009-11 state budget which contained a prison early release program the group claims puts dangerous criminals back on the streets before they serve their full sentences.  Lehman is challenging GOP Senator Van Wanggaard of Racine - another of the four GOP Senate seats targeted for recall.