GOP group vows to spend ‘whatever it takes’ to fight recall efforts in Wisconsin

“You can expect to see some aggressive radio, TV and mail campaigns from us,” Jankowski said. 

Not all of the logistics on a recall effort are entirely clear, but organizers would have to collect thousands of signatures to even get it on the ballot; the number of signatures would have to equal at least 25 percent of the voters who cast ballots in last year’s governor’s race in each Senate district. 

The total number varies given the size of the district, but could be as high as 20,000 signatures in some. The timeframe on any potential recalls is also in question.  

“Do I expect there to be some recalls? Yeah, I do,” said Michael Sargeant, executive director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the party’s counterweight to the RSLC. “I think it’s too early to tell what seats will be subject to recall on either side, but this is real.” 

Sargeant said the committee has already been in contact with Wisconsin Senate Democrats and plans to aid labor groups and others if and when actual recall battles emerge. 

While it may be an uphill fight for Wisconsin Democrats, the chamber’s majority is potentially in the balance as Democrats would need to pick up just three seats to win control of the state Senate. 

Other groups are already weighing support for potential recall efforts. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, along with Democracy for America is launching robocalls into the districts of five state Senate Republicans, in an attempt to gauge the level of support. 

Data released earlier this week by Democratic pollster Ken Strasma suggest there is some appetite for recalling Republican members of the legislature.  

As for Gov. Scott Walker (R), he’s not eligible for recall until he serves at least one year; and while there may currently be enough momentum for a recall petition to succeed, energy from the budget battle will likely fade significantly by next year. 

A poll released yesterday from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling showed voters in the state split on a potential Walker recall effort: 48 percent of voters said they would be supportive of a recall effort, while 48 percent were against it.