The Survivor

How Scott Walker went to war on his recall

By Alex Altman Monday, June 11, 2012
    • Whitney Curtis / Getty Images

    Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker speaks during the NRA's Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum at the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits April 13, 2012 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Mo.

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    Walker, meanwhile, has proved equal parts ideologue and tactician. In January 2011, just weeks before presenting his "budget repair" bill, he met with Diane Hendricks, a Wisconsin roofing tycoon who would become a top benefactor of his recall-defense fund. The way to change the state's political culture, Walker told Hendricks, was to "divide and conquer" its unions. Walker shrewdly opted to exempt cops and firefighters, two groups that skew Republican and enjoy broad public support. While many public-safety workers joined prounion protests, Walker sidestepped some of the backlash that bruised Ohio's John Kasich in his attempt to curb collective bargaining. History suggests Walker has the advantage, and not just because of his fundraising haul. Only twice have sitting governors been recalled: North Dakota's Lynn Frazier in 1921 and California's Gray Davis in 2003.

    Walker's survival would be a blow to his union opponents, who sought his removal not just as retribution but also to demonstrate their clout in "an era when labor's political muscle has atrophied if not disappeared," says former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich. "That's the reason I'm such a target," Walker says. "If they don't take me out here, it opens the door" for Republicans--and perhaps some Democrats--to follow his example.

    Walker has campaigned in a cocoon. He speaks in scripted sound bites, keeps the location of his headquarters secret and shuns rallies that might invite spectacles of dissension. Instead he makes pilgrimages to small businesses, territory both hallowed and safe. On a bright May morning, he was visiting a sheet-metal fabricator on the outskirts of Milwaukee when a factory worker stopped him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "My family and I are praying for you," he said. Walker looked gratified and a little relieved. If he prevails next week, he may even be vindicated.

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