Wis. Gov. Scott Walker has raised millions of dollars from out-of-state contributors for his recall election campaign. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Wisconsin’s Republican governor, Scott Walker, has raised $12 million to fund his recall election campaign – much of it from large out-of-state donors. The Wisconsin State Journal reports that he’s raised more than $4.5 million in the past five weeks, since unions and groups of Democrats collected more than one million signatures triggering a recall. $1 million of that total came in just a week, from four individual donors:
Walker brought in big money from out-of-state donors, including another $250,000 from billionaire Texas home builder Bob Perry. That means he has now received $500,000 from Perry, who is known for financing the “swift boat” ads targeting 2004 Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.
[Four donors] were among the out-of-state donors that gave Walker some 61 percent of his campaign contributions in the most recent reporting period, said Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
Walker upset organized labor and other groups last year when he pushed through a law that cut many collective bargaining rights for public workers, leading to massive protests in Wisconsin.
McCabe noted why this record-setting fundraising is problematic for ordinary Wisconsinites:
“It’s the most ever raised by anyone running for state office. And he’s just getting started,” McCabe said. “And his reliance on out-of-state funders seems to be growing…”
“He’s going to have an overwhelming financial advantage over any opponent,” McCabe said.
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Wisconsin State Journal: Out-of-state contributions bolster Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker campaign
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