WisPolitics.com
A polling memo on a survey commissioned by Progressive Majority Wisconsin pegs Milwaukee County Exec. Scott Walker's re-election support below 50 percent and suggests he is vulnerable to a challenge. But Walker’s campaign says the poll may mean little.
The poll, conducted by the Democratic polling firm Forward Strategies, showed 43 percent of likely voters support Walker for re-election, down from 64 percent in January 2004. The poll also showed that 58 percent of voters though the county is on the wrong track, compared to 23 percent who felt that way in 2004.
“Walker has fallen below the key value of 50 percent, even against an unnamed opponent, suggesting the county executive could be very vulnerable to a challenge in the next election,” the poll summary said.
The poll of 400 Milwaukee voters was conducted from Aug. 13 to Aug. 16 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.
Walker campaign chair Tim Russell said that without seeing the whole poll, it’s difficult to assess whether leading questions were asked pertaining to Walker and the direction of county government. Russell said that even if the poll was conducted fairly, it followed a run of negative stories regarding a pension buyback program that could have affected people’s opinions.
“There wasn’t at the same time any positive or countervailing media that showed the great things are going on in Milwaukee County,” Russell said. “Perhaps that’s a more accurate representation of one point in time.”
Russell noted that the results were compared with a survey in 2004, when people were paying attention to the race and Walker had an identified opponent in David Riemer.
“I think in the end, if you get a real candidate out there, not some nebulous, fantasy candidate, I think you’ll see the executive’s numbers do much differently,” Russell said.
Russell said the campaign hasn’t done any of its own polling recently, but expects to do some between now and the end of the year. “I’m confident that we’ll see much different numbers than that,” he said.
But Russell said the only poll that matters will be at the ballot box, should Walker decide to run.
“In the end, the only poll that counts will be taken in April and that’s the one that I’m confident the county executive will win,” Russell said.
Although commissioned by a progressive interest group, a Democratic Party insider said the poll is a “real poll” and described the below-50 percent mark as “a really bad place to be” for Walker.
The source also said voting patterns and demographic shifts spell bad news for Walker, noting that Democrats are strong in Shorewood and Whitefish Bay and are gaining ground in the southern suburbs.
“Democrats are spreading out, and that's bad news for Scott Walker,” the source said.
Among those considering a potential bid are Sen. Lena Taylor, Rep. Jon Richards and Milwaukee Ald. Mike D'Amato. Both Richards and Taylor expressed satisfaction with their current posts in previous interviews with WisPolitics, and the Democratic source said that while both would be strong opponents, it is questionable whether they will run.
Milwaukee County Sup. John Weishan said he's also considering a bid, but is waiting to see which progressive candidates emerge that he may decide to support.
“I'm not interested in having a real ugly primary with somebody.” Weishan said. “Milwaukee County needs for us to get together on the progressive side of the issues.
“Once those people on the more progressive side kind of get together and decide what's going to happen, I'll be more than willing to work with whomever they want to put up.”
Joe Klein, who ran for the post in the 2004 election and failed to make it through the primary, said he’d file papers by Aug. 27 if no candidate emerged. Klein has yet to do that, but said today it’s likely he will file soon.
The Democratic source pegged D'Amato as a particularly strong opponent, noting that he's young, ambitious and already has a considerable campaign war chest as well as a strong base on the east side.
To run, D’Amato would have to give up his seat on the Common Council, but the source said the recent polling data could provide the extra push to influence D'Amato's decision and that he could be at a point in his political career where he'd like to “move up or out.”
Even with $146,993 in his campaign fund as of June 30, he'd have to raise considerable funds to compete with the $414,572 in Walker’s war chest.
Both Walker's campaign and the Democratic source have noted that money could be raised quickly for the race. Both pointed to David Riemer being able to raise more than $500,000 after his late start in 2003.
The Dem source said that although it's not too late, the clock is ticking.
“A month from now, it's starting to get too late,” the source said.
View the poll memo
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
5TH ANNUAL MILWAUKEE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The mission of the non-profit Milwaukee International Film Festival (MIFF) is to present quality, thought-provoking films from around the world and here in the Midwest. Education is an integral part of that mission. MIFF's educational objective is to promote understanding between individuals and social groups across the barriers of language, culture, ethnicity and religion.
Vision
The main initiative of MIFF's Midwest Filmmaker Competition is to promote and develop Milwaukee as the independent filmmaking center of the Midwest.
www.milwaukeefilmfest.org
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
EAST SIDE EDWARDO'S CLOSES
Edwardo's Natural Pizza has closed the location at 700 E. Kilbourn Ave.
A recorded message says the restaurant has lost its lease.
There is still a location in Wauwatosa, on Blue Mound Road.
A recorded message says the restaurant has lost its lease.
There is still a location in Wauwatosa, on Blue Mound Road.
Director: Milwaukee a fresh alternative for Hollywood
Business Journal of Milwaukee
The director of a new television series set in Milwaukee said he would like his cast and crew to return here to shoot scenes for future episodes.
Actors Lou Diamond Phillips, Billy Burke and a crew for an NBC series with the working title "The Watch" are in Milwaukee for three days shooting at outdoor locations for a pilot episode. They took a break from their work this morning to participate in a press conference at O'Donnell Park at the lakefront. Also present were politicians, tourism officials and supporters of the Wisconsin TV and film industry.
"The Watch," which revolves around a suburban neighborhood watch group gone awry, is scheduled to debut in February 2008 with an initial run of 12 to 13 episodes, said director Charles McDougall, whose credits include "Desperate Housewives."
A majority of scenes will be filmed at indoor sound stages in the Los Angeles area.
McDougall said that 90 percent of TV series tape and film outdoor scenes in the Los Angeles area and all the locations there have become overexposed with viewers. He said he hopes to explore Milwaukee as a fresh alternative.
"I'd rather shoot here," he said.
Pete Schindler, vice president of production with Sony Pictures, which is producing the series for NBC, said the return of "The Watch" crew will depend on financial incentives from the state and the presence of a larger sound stage in the Milwaukee area.
The incentives are scheduled to start in January 2008 under the Film Wisconsin legislation that is designed to encourage the development of the film, television, TV commercial and video game industries in the state.
"That's how you compete with Toronto," he said, referring to the Canadian city that's the backdrop for many TV shows and movies.
In the meantime, VISIT Milwaukee, the local convention and visitors bureau, established a $100,000 fund for productions that are conducted prior to the state incentives. "The Watch" is receiving about $25,000 from the VISIT Milwaukee fund, said CEO Doug Neilson.
Schindler said the television series will need an indoor sound stage of at least 12,000 square feet, and preferably as large as 20,000 square feet.
Scott Robbe, executive director of Film Wisconsin, a private Milwaukee company supporting the industry in the state, said plans are under way to create a sound stage of that size in the area. He didn't identify who was creating the sound stage or where.
"The Watch" is employing a crew of 40, mostly from the Milwaukee and Chicago areas with some Los Angeles staffers.
Lou Diamond Phillips and Billy Burke were in scenes in the downtown area and along the lakefront.
The director of a new television series set in Milwaukee said he would like his cast and crew to return here to shoot scenes for future episodes.
Actors Lou Diamond Phillips, Billy Burke and a crew for an NBC series with the working title "The Watch" are in Milwaukee for three days shooting at outdoor locations for a pilot episode. They took a break from their work this morning to participate in a press conference at O'Donnell Park at the lakefront. Also present were politicians, tourism officials and supporters of the Wisconsin TV and film industry.
"The Watch," which revolves around a suburban neighborhood watch group gone awry, is scheduled to debut in February 2008 with an initial run of 12 to 13 episodes, said director Charles McDougall, whose credits include "Desperate Housewives."
A majority of scenes will be filmed at indoor sound stages in the Los Angeles area.
McDougall said that 90 percent of TV series tape and film outdoor scenes in the Los Angeles area and all the locations there have become overexposed with viewers. He said he hopes to explore Milwaukee as a fresh alternative.
"I'd rather shoot here," he said.
Pete Schindler, vice president of production with Sony Pictures, which is producing the series for NBC, said the return of "The Watch" crew will depend on financial incentives from the state and the presence of a larger sound stage in the Milwaukee area.
The incentives are scheduled to start in January 2008 under the Film Wisconsin legislation that is designed to encourage the development of the film, television, TV commercial and video game industries in the state.
"That's how you compete with Toronto," he said, referring to the Canadian city that's the backdrop for many TV shows and movies.
In the meantime, VISIT Milwaukee, the local convention and visitors bureau, established a $100,000 fund for productions that are conducted prior to the state incentives. "The Watch" is receiving about $25,000 from the VISIT Milwaukee fund, said CEO Doug Neilson.
Schindler said the television series will need an indoor sound stage of at least 12,000 square feet, and preferably as large as 20,000 square feet.
Scott Robbe, executive director of Film Wisconsin, a private Milwaukee company supporting the industry in the state, said plans are under way to create a sound stage of that size in the area. He didn't identify who was creating the sound stage or where.
"The Watch" is employing a crew of 40, mostly from the Milwaukee and Chicago areas with some Los Angeles staffers.
Lou Diamond Phillips and Billy Burke were in scenes in the downtown area and along the lakefront.
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