This is a great summation of my thoughts on the campaign being waged by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke.
Even still, running a lackluster, personality-free campaign won’t fire up the base, and you need your base to run get-out-the-vote drives, talk you up to their less politically engaged friends and family and generally perform the heavy lifting and grunt work to get you elected. In short: These folks are the ones who will get that sliver of undecided voters to support you in the end.
Burke, then, would be wise to start showing some real personality and thoughtfulness. It’s time to break free of the consultant-fed speeches and take a few stands, show us who she really is. Folks want to feel like they know a candidate before making up their minds. At least, they have to be aware that you’re running in the first place.
Love him or hate him, just about everyone knows who Walker is by now. He’s a career politician, someone the good people of Milwaukee County have known for some time. His record, for better or for worse, is out there for everyone to see. Walker has never really hidden who he is or what his ambitions are. Those of us who were paying attention weren’t even blindsided by Act 10. Appalled, yes. Shocked, no.
Burke, on the other hand, comes from a private business background. Humorously enough, if she were a Republican, the right would be positively fawning over her candidacy. Indeed, many of the reasons for that are probably the same factors that played into the Democratic establishment’s backing of her run. Presumably, they think she presents a good, middle-of-the-road alternative to Walker: Fiscally moderate, socially moderate-to-liberal, perhaps the thought was that Burke wouldn’t scare away those people who voted for President Barack Obama in 2012 but also voted against Walker’s recall.
But is it enough, in this day and age, to simply be the Candidate Lite version of the incumbent? Do people get fired up about that? Given the tone of her campaign thus far, Burke had better hope so.
A friend called to let my know Mary Burke was being interviewed on Mike Gousha’s program this (Sunday) morning. There seems to be a slight shift in her understanding of where she needs to position herself in regard to JOB ONE, winning the election against Walker.
I heard a little bit of Kathleen Vinehout delivered in a better tailored suit, with fancier jewelry. Encouraging, though sidestepping the education question deftly is a point that she needs to make up her mind on. Most Wisconsinites would like to hear, minimally, no public financing without equal requirements for qualifications and evaluations by the state of the voucher and charter schools, that are not equal to those required of public education.
http://www.wisn.com/politics/upfront
Finally pushing for the $10.10 minimum wage is better but late and too tentative. She doesn’t seem able to project a confident leadership right now which I hope changes and wow, does she have a golden opportunity with marriage equality. Glory be and hallelujah! They’re going for it! This is a marvelous opportunity for Burke to stand solidly on the side of the angels, on the right side of history. Walker has nowhere to go – he’s pinned into a corner. This is a clear GOTV issue for Democrats, youth voters, independents. Do it, Mary. Endorse marriage equality and never look back.
Agreed – I think $10.10 is better, but I’d be more impressed if she proposed a real living wage somewhere in the neighborhood of $15 an hour.