Tuesday's recall election of Republican Gov. Scott Walker is the most expensive in Wisconsin history. More than $63.5 million has been spent by candidates and independent groups, the overwhelming majority underwritten by out-of-state sources. According to Paul Abowd of the Center for Public Integrity: "The record spending total was made possible thanks to the Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court decision, which had the effect of invalidating Wisconsin's century-old ban on independent expenditures by corporations and unions, and a state law that allows unlimited contributions to the incumbent in recall elections... While Barrett has received about 26 percent of his $4 million in campaign donations from outside the Badger State, Walker has drawn nearly two-thirds of his $30.5 million contributions from out of state, according to campaign filings released May 29."
According to the final poll on the face conducted by Public Policy Polling, a firm affiliated with the Democratic Party, Walker holds a narrow 3-point lead over his challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.