Former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold says he was surprised at Governor Scott Walker’s victory margin after polling forecasts predicted a tight contest. Feingold believes a number of voters disagreed with Walker’s collective bargaining cuts but they also believed it was wrong to use a recall process to overturn the policy.
AUDIO: Feingold on voters disagreeing with recall (:41)
After speaking at Hudson event promoting his new book, Feingold says “recall fatigue” is one of the reasons Tom Barrett lost. He also says it “wasn’t an ideal time” for an election with people on vacation and students gone for the summer.
Feingold says he also wants to analyze whether the mass protests in Madison last year had a negative impact on voters outside the capital city, and might require a rethinking of liberal political tactics.
Jeff Petersen-WIXK