The Fix: Governor
How John Hickenlooper can help President Obama
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) could be the most important swing-state governor of the 2012 election.
The reason: The first-term governor is popular — extremely popular — and that could bode well for President Obama in what is increasingly looking like a pivotal state in the 2012 election. In addition, Hickenlooper is one of few swing-state governors with legitimate national ambitions right now.
That makes the 2012 election an invaluable time for him to get his name out there and build a base of support for a potential future run for president.
And that could play into Obama’s hands in a tough state — that is, if Hickenlooper embraces the president.
President Obama makes a statement from the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Colo., on Sunday, July 22, 2012. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is at left. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Rick Hill wins Montana GOP governor nod
Former congressman Rick Hill won the Montana Republican governor primary on Tuesday and will face state Attorney General Steve Bullock (D) in the race to succeed outgoing Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D).
Hill emerged from a crowded field with 34 percent of the vote. His nearest competition was at 18 percent. 
Republican governor candidate Rick Hill smiles as he walks through a crowd of his supporters Tuesday night in the Red Lion Hotel in Helena. (AP Photo/Dylan Brown, Independent Record)
Wisconsin recall: Union voters ≠ union households
Voters from union households turned out in droves for Tuesday’s recall election in Wisconsin in an unsuccessful attempt to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker (R).
But the strength of the union vote was limited, perhaps decisively, by a divide between union members and those who simply live in union households.
Many of the protesters were members of unions whose power to negotiate contract benefits would be affected.
Despite Scott Walker’s win, Obama outpolls Romney in Wisconsin
Updated at 11:35 a.m.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is on his way to victory in the state’s recall election tonight, but looking forward to the fall, the Obama campaign may have something positive to glean from the results.
While the totals have Walker ahead significantly, exit polls suggest he did it with a healthy dose of support from voters who are leaning toward President Obama in the fall.
In fact, exit polls show Walker winning 18 percent of Obama supporters — much higher than Democrat Tom Barrett’s 6 percent of Mitt Romney supporters. Overall, the electorate that turned out Tuesday backed Obama by a 51 percent-to-44-percent margin.
Wisconsin recall and primary day: Five things to watch
Wisconsin is just one of six states holding elections Tuesday, as voters in California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota also head to the polls.
Nothing in those other states will approach the importance of what’s happening with the recall of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) — or even come close, really — but there are some interesting subplots to keep an eye on.
Below, we explore five of them.
Wisconsin recall election: Barrett poll shows Walker up two
Democrats continue to fight back against the notion that they are losing control of the recall election in Wisconsin, with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s (D) campaign releasing another poll showing a tight race.
The Barrett poll, conducted Tuesday and Wednesday, shows Gov. Scott Walker (R) at 50 percent and Barrett at 48 percent.
Wisconsin recall slipping away from Democrats
Just two and a half weeks remain in the recall of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), and momentum seems to be firmly on the GOP’s side.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker speaks to the Illinois Chamber of Commerce in this April 17, 2012 file photo taken in Springfield, Ill. (Seth Perlman — Associated Press)
All three polls out this week show Walker leading Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) by between 5 percent and 9 percent. Perhaps more illustrative, though, are the candidate’s personal favorability and approval numbers.
Indiana, North Carolina and West Virginia primaries: What to watch for
Indiana Republican Sen. Richard Lugar’s likely demise and the gubernatorial recall primary in Wisconsin aren’t the only two races worth watching tonight. There are also some key House, Senate and governor primaries in Indiana, North Carolina and West Virginia.
Two of those states — Indiana and North Carolina — represent relatively rare opportunities for the House Republicans to play some offense this year.
In addition, North Carolina Democrats will pick their gubernatorial nominee in the marquee governor’s race of 2012 (after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s recall election, that is), and West Virginia will hold its governor, Senate and congressional primaries.
There are lots of moving parts; that’s where we come in. Here’s a cheat sheet of what you need to know, state by state and race by race. Impress your friends! Vanquish your enemies!
Cory Booker’s next move, and why it might take a while
We here at The Fix are — admittedly — a fan of the political parlor game. We’re always looking for the next big thing in politics, the next potential president, senator or governor.
So when Newark Mayor Cory Booker saves his neighbor from a burning house, needless to say, we take notice.
Newark Mayor Cory Booker talks during a news conference outside of the Prudential Center, Wednesday, April 4, 2012, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
The episode was simply the latest in a long line in a storybook-like political rise, and Booker has long been the subject of speculation about his future. As a young, telegenic, social media-savvy (more than one million Twitter followers) and popular mayor just across the river from New York City, he’s hard to ignore.
The question for a long time, then, has been is what is next for Booker.
The problem, though, is that his state isn’t great for a rising star.
Wisconsin recall elections: Scott Walker launches ads against two top opponents
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is up with his first two ads of the state’s June recall election, with one ad hitting each of his top potential opponents.
The ads both feature black and white footage and suggest Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) and former Dane County executive Kathleen Falk (D) want to take the state backward, focusing on their records in local government.
Rep. Jay Inslee to resign to focus on run for governor
Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) announced Saturday that he is resigning from Congress to focus on his gubernatorial campaign.
The Democrat announced his decision at a news conference in Seattle, the Associated Press reported. Inslee is in his eighth term representing a Seattle-area district in the House.
Washington’s Democratic governor, Christine Gregoire, is retiring at the end of her term, and Inslee is running against Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna to replace her.
Inslee’s decision has been rumored for weeks. Some polling has shown him facing an early deficit against state Attorney General Rob McKenna, and the commute between Washington, D.C., and Washington state is an arduous one — not to mention the fact that McKenna has his day job when he’s in the District.
Democrats point to some more encouraging polling in recent days and suggest that once Inslee boosts his name recognition, he will gain in the polls.
By waiting until now to resign, Inslee allows the state to keep the seat vacant until November. Had he resigned earlier, Gregoire would have had to call a special election.
Kinder to seek reelection rather than run for Missouri governor
Updated at 3:38 p.m.
Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder (R) will announce Friday afternoon that he will not run for governor in 2012, but will instead seek re-election to his current post, according to sources familiar with his plans.
The announcement is set for 4 p.m. Eastern time. At that time, Kinder will throw his support in the governor’s race to businessman Dave Spence.
Issue 2 falls, Ohio collective bargaining law repealed
Ohioans voted Tuesday night to repeal a Republican-backed law that restricted collective bargaining for public workers, a victory for Democrats and labor organizers both nationally and in the state.
AP has declared Issue 2 (as the law was called on the ballot) dead. As of this writing, with about 75 percent of precincts in, repeal led by a whopping 62 to 38 percent margin.
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