Tom Barrett, Scott Walker’s challenger in the Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election, told CNN this morning that he didn’t ask President Obama to stop by the state to rally Democrats in his support. “We understand he’s got a lot going on,” said Barrett.
Barrett was clearly afraid of being associated with President Obama or the national political scene: “I want to make sure that everybody understands this is about Wisconsin values. It’s not about Washington, D.C. It’s about right here, who is going to control the future of this state? Will it be tea party, the national right wing? Or is it going to be the state of Wisconsin, and I’m putting my money on the people of the state of Wisconsin.”
While Barrett has been reluctant to bring national figures to Wisconsin, thanks in all likelihood to the unpopularity of the president, Walker’s campaign has hosted South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.