Can Bill Clinton win the Wisconsin recall for Democrats?

After heavy lobbying from increasingly nervous Democrats, the Big Dog is lending his campaigning heft to the effort to recall union-busting Gov. Scott Walker

Bill Clinton: Knight in shining armor? The former president will try to work his campaign magic in Wisconsin, where Democrats hope to oust controversial Gov. Scott Walker.
(Image credit: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

Wisconsin voters go the polls on Tuesday to decide if controversial Gov. Scott Walker (R) gets to keep his job or loses it to his challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D). Most recent polls have Walker — who faces a recall after controversially revoking the collective bargaining rights of public-employee unions last year — up by about 6 percentage points, though Democrats say their private polls show the race much tighter. Assuming Thursday night's "caustic final debate" between Walker and Barrett didn't change any minds in this polarized race, the winner will likely be decided by which side motivates its supporters to vote on Tuesday. Enter Bill Clinton, who just committed to campaigning with Barrett in the race's final days. Can the former president, and his prodigious campaigning skills, tip the balance in the Democrats' favor?

Clinton might just push Barrett over the top: "If there's any justice in the universe, Scott Walker will lose," says Erik Kain at Mother Jones. But since "evidence of justice in the universe remains inconclusive at best," I'll take the Clinton visit. Democrats have a lot to lose if Walker wins, and having "Clinton work his magic and rally voters to the polls" is a huge break. Of course, even with Clinton on the stump for Barrett, "it's going to be a close one," but I like his odds a whole lot better now.

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