Priebus tries to manage expectations for WI recall vote
Yes, there's a danger that the GOP may get overconfident as a result of Governor Scott Walker's narrow 7 point lead in the recall vote scheduled for Tuesday. The signs are very positive but that doesn't mean Republicans can let up for one minute.
So RNC chair Reince Priebus warned the party; don't get cocky, kid:
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said on Saturday that he wasn't expecting an easy win in the Wisconsin recall, managing expectations in the wake of last week's polling that shows Governor Scott Walker up by seven points.
"I just assume, being from here, that we have to scratch and prod at everything we do," Priebus told BuzzFeed after a Tea Party rally in Racine County.
"I'm very used to the Democrats pouring it on," Priebus said. "So we're not going to let up. That's why we're not stopping."
"I'm not going to play into this narrative about whether or not the Democrats are letting up because I don't care."
Priebus said the fact that President Obama didn't come to Wisconsin this weekend was a bad sign for the Democrats' recall effort.
"You've got a very important race here in this state, but it's really an important race for this country," Priebus said. "The fact that the president flew over the top of Wisconsin and didn't stop - I don't know what you read in that, but it isn't good for Tom Barrett."
The national Dems - belatedly - are infusing some energy and cash into the race. Bill Clinton made an appearance in the state on Friday. But as the article points out, Barack Obama remains on the sidelines, unwilling to risk his prestige on a race that appears lost at this point. You can bet if national Democrats believed Tom Barrett could win, Obama might have toured the state in the closing hours of the race.
His absence speaks volumes about GOP chances.
Those chances cannot be taken for granted, hence the Priebus warning. Let's hope they take it to heart.