Recall results show a deeply divided electorate

By Lee DeCovnick

In Wisconsin, the preliminary gubernatorial recall results showed a deeply divided electorate in the Badger State. The deep blue (Democrat) counties went heavily against Walker, and the deep red (Republican) counties went strongly against Barrett. How intense is this polarization?

Here are the percentage results from six key Wisconsin counties, from the Reagan-Mondale Presidential results in 1984 as compared to Walker- Barrett last night.

Counties:	Reagan 1984	Mondale 1984	Walker 2012	Barrett 2012	Walker vs. Reagan	Barrett vs. Mondale
Dane	44	56	31	69	-13	+13
Milwaukee	43	56	37	63	-5	+7
Racine	53	46	59	41	+6	-5
Ozaukee	68	31	71	29	+4	-2
Washington	66	35	75	24	+11	-11
Waukesha	66	34	72	27	+6	-7
State Wide	55	44	53	46	-2	+2

The red counties went deeper for Walker than they did for Reagan, and the blue counties went far deeper for Barrett than Mondale, and middle of the road Racine, the independent swing vote, went, hands down, to the Walker camp.

This is a pretty positive preview of the November election. The independent vote seems to running to right this year. But before the GOP can start thinking about chilling the champagne, conservatives should carefully consider that the liberal base still turned out in very respectable numbers in support of Barrett.