Democratic pollster Doug Schoen tells Newsmax that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s victory on Tuesday proves that Republicans across the country can stand up for their principles — and survive.
“You can stand up for your principles and survive against big labor,” Schoen explained in an exclusive interview on Tuesday night. “It also says the presidential race is a cliffhanger nationally. And that it is now tied — a dead heat — and it shows that it is still anyone’s race.”
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Supporters of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker scored a big victory for Republicans.
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Schoen pointed to Wisconsin exit polls that appeared to reflect a slip in support for President Barack Obama among that state’s voters from earlier polls.
“If we’re seeing a 3-percent drop and that is projected nationally, that would turn a 5-point-race into a 1- or 2-point-race,” said Schoen, who believes that the Wisconsin recall election will embolden both Republicans and Democrats — but for different reasons.
“I think the story was money, turnout, message, candidate — and most of all a desire not to interrupt the democratic process,” Schoen explained. “If every day elected officials were recalled because voters disagreed with them, we wouldn’t have a political system. And I think a small percentage of voters — or probably a critical number — said ‘enough is enough.’”
He added that voters also validated Walker’s policies to some extent.
“It is a ratification of what Walker has done in the sense that people believe that you don’t recall someone based on disagreement with his record,” according to Schoen. “It’s an endorsement — at least partially — of the need to reform collective bargaining.”
Schoen emphasized that Walker’s victory over Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is not all good news for Republicans.
“It’s also a warning sign for those on the right that the left, labor, and President Obama are certainly not by any means defeated,” according to Schoen.
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