What They’re Saying About Last Night’s Republican Win

Victory “Boosts Republican Hopes In The Badger State Heading Into The November Presidential”

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“RED FLAGS ALL OVER FOR OBAMA IN WISCONSIN”

Politico: “Obama Big Loser In Wisconsin Showdown” (Donovan Slack, “Obama Big Loser In Wisconsin Showdown,” Politico, 6/6/12)

• Politico: “This Was A Crippling Blow To A Party In Wisconsin That Not Long Ago Controlled Both U.S. Senate Seats And The Governor’s Mansion.”“There’s no other way to slice it: this was a crippling blow to a party in Wisconsin that not long ago controlled both U.S. Senate seats and the governor’s mansion. Sure, Walker spent gobs of money in unique circumstances to pull it out. But the psychological blow is impossible to ignore and will certainly echo in the state’s first open U.S. Senate race in 24 years.” (Jim Vandehei, et. al., “Wisconsin Recall: The Biggest Losers,” Politico, 6/6/12)

Politico: “Last Night Was A Coda Obama Must Reckon With For The Fall.” “In the primary races, with a competitive race on the Democratic side and no Walker opponent to speak of, Republicans actually cast more votes – a sure sign of energy. And last night was a coda Obama must reckon with for the fall.” (Jim Vandehei, et. al., “Wisconsin Recall: The Biggest Losers,” Politico, 6/6/12)

National Journal: “Red Flags All Over For Obama In Wisconsin” (Josh Kraushaar, “Red Flags All Over For Obama In Wisconsin,” National Journal, 6/6/12)

• Walker’s Victory Is A “Stinging Blow” To Obama’s Prospects For A Second Term, And The “Rust Belt States Of Wisconsin, Michigan And Pennsylvania Will Be Very Much In Play This November.” “President Obama wasn’t on the ballot in Wisconsin, but Gov. Scott Walker’s decisive victory in last night’s gubernatorial recall is a stinging blow to his prospects for a second term. The re-election was a telltale sign that the conservative base is as energized as ever, that the Democratic GOTV efforts may not be as stellar as advertised, and that the Democratic-leaning ‘blue wall’ Rust Belt states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania will be very much in play this November.” (Josh Kraushaar, “Red Flags All Over For Obama In Wisconsin,” National Journal, 6/6/12)

The Associated Press: “The Republican’s Solid Victory Served As A Warning For President Barack Obama…” “The Republican’s solid victory served as a warning for President Barack Obama about the potential hurdles he faces as he fights to hang onto a traditionally Democratic battleground he won comfortably in 2008.” (Thomas Beaumont, “Wisconsin Outcome Signals Opportunity For Romney,” The Associated Press, 6/6/12)

Arnold Shober, A Government Professor At Lawrence University: “Wisconsin Now Looks A Lot More Like 2000 Than 2008. That Has Got To Make Obama Very Nervous.”“‘Wisconsin now looks a lot more like 2000 than 2008,’ said Arnold Shober, a government professor at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis., pointing to an election in which Democrat Al Gore narrowly bested then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush in the state. ‘That has got to make Obama very nervous.'” (Brian Hughes, “Obama, Public Unions Suffer Setback In Wisconsin,”The Washington Examiner, 6/5/12)

CNN’s David Gergen: “I Think That Any Serious Observer Would Have To Say That A State That Looked Like It Was Leaning Toward Obama Now Must Be Counted As Undecided.” “I think there are two implications of this tonight. One is what it does for November and I think that any serious observer would have to say that a state that looked like it was leaning toward Obama now must be counted as undecided, that anything can happen in Wisconsin and perhaps even in Michigan.” (CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” 6/5/12)

AS DEMOCRATS “FLUNKED” THEIR “DRY RUN”

CNN’s Gloria Borger: “Yeah,” The DNC Flunked Its Test Run In Wisconsin. CNN’S JOHN KING: “You have the Democrats, especially Labor, saying this was a test run, this was a key test of Labor’s credibility, and the Chairwoman of the Democratic Party, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, saying it was a test run for November. Safe to say they flunked that test?” CNN’s GLORIA BORGER: “Yeah, it is safe to say. Look, this is a measure of intensity and enthusiasm among Democrats and also among independent voters, and it’s a measure of the strength of the Labor Party movement.” (CNN, 6/5/12)

On DNC Chairwoman’s Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s Calling The Race A “Dry Run,” Democrat Strategist Jamal Simmons Said “I’m Sure The Chairwoman Would Like To Take Those Words Back.” CNN’S ERIN BURNETT: “But Jamal what about what John Avalon said, that Debbie Wassermann Schultz is going to regret saying this was a dry run for the general? It’s a bad sounds bite, how big of a blunder was it?” DEMOCRAT STRATEGIST JAMAL SIMMONS: “It is a bad sound bite and I think — I’m sure the Chairwoman would like to take those words back.” (CNN, 6/5/12)

Tampa Bay Times Alex Leary: “Does Debbie Wasserman Schultz Still Consider Wisconsin A ‘Dry Run’ For November?” (Alex Leary, “Does Debbie Wasserman Schultz Still Consider Wisconsin A ‘Dry Run’ For November?” Tampa Bay Times The Buzz , 6/5/12)

AS MANY QUESTION OBAMA’S HIDING FROM THE RACE

Politico: “More Than A Few Democrats Walked Away From Last Night Bitter At Their Own Party.” “There’s also the risk – actually the reality – that more than a few Democrats walked away from last night bitter at their own party. Local Democrats are already griping about what they saw as half-hearted support, at best, from Obama and the Democratic National Committee.” (Jim Vandehei, et. al., “Wisconsin Recall: The Biggest Losers,”Politico, 6/6/12)

Obama Super PAC Advisor Paul Begala Said Obama “Owed It To Tom Barrett … And To Everybody Else He Going To Have To Deal With” To Campaign In Wisconsin, Adding “This Was A Mistake. I Have To Say. The President Should Have Been Out There.” CNN’S JOHN KING: “Ari makes a fascinating point about whether labor will do unto President Obama you might say as he just did unto them. Did the president make a mistake? He’s the leader of the party. Maybe he was worried this would damage him in November. Maybe he was worried he’d have his finger prints on an embarrassing loss, but as the leader of the Democratic Party, did he owe it to the voters of Wisconsin to go out there and try to turn out the vote?” PAUL BEGALA: “Certainly. Of course and he owed it to Tom Barrett. Barrett was a Mayor of Milwaukee. He came out in the primaries and endorsed then Senator Obama against Senator Clinton. He also owes it to himself and to everybody else he going to have to deal with. This was a mistake. I have to say. The President should have been out there. I don’t think it would have made the difference, okay? Let me be clear about that. But it’s kind of like Thanksgiving at your in-laws. If you go, it doesn’t guarantee it will be fun, but if you don’t go this will be hell to pay and that’s the situation the President’s in.” (CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” 6/5/12)

Former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI): “It Could Have Effects On The Presidential Race. … There’s Always The Risk Of People Being Dispirited.” “Tell that to former Sen. Russ Feingold, who isn’t sold on that theory. ‘It could have effects on the presidential race, the Senate race, sure,’ he said. ‘There’s always the risk of people being dispirited.'” (Jim Vandehei, et. al., “Wisconsin Recall: The Biggest Losers,” Politico, 6/6/12)

CNN’s John King: “As The Leader Of The Democratic Party, Did He Owe It To The Voters Of Wisconsin To Go Out There And Try To Turn Out The Vote?” CNN’S JOHN KING: “Ari makes a fascinating point about whether labor will do unto President Obama you might say as he just did unto them. Did the president make a mistake? He’s the leader of the party. Maybe he was worried this would damage him in November. Maybe he was worried he’d have his finger prints on an embarrassing loss, but as the leader of the Democratic Party, did he owe it to the voters of Wisconsin to go out there and try to turn out the vote?” (CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” 6/5/12)

CNN’s David Gergen: “If The President Had Gone In And Been Loyal To Labor, I Think Labor Would Be More Loyal To Him. Whether He Can Count On Them Under These Circumstances, I’m Not Sure.” (CNN, 6/5/12)