Candidate Runs 'Fighting' Ad Against Assault Victim Rival

Barrett aims to unseat Wisconsin governor June 5

(NEWSER) - Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has won a hard-fought primary campaign to become the Democrat who will seek to unseat Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in a recall election June 5. Barrett—who was defeated by Walker in November 2010—beat nearest rival Kathleen Falk 58% to 32%, despite the millions of dollars labor groups spent in a bid to defeat him, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . With the election just four weeks away, polls show Walker and Barrett in a dead heat, but Walker has raised more than $25 million, while Barrett's campaign now has less than $500,000 on hand. More»

Criticism drives Brian Deschane from office

(NEWSER) - Brian Deschane has decided to resign altogether rather than accept a demotion to the $64,728-per-year job he started out in, sources tell the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . The resignation comes after a minor uproar over the 27-year-old, who has no college degree, little experience, and two drunken driving convictions—yet landed a swift promotion to an $81,500 management job in the Walker administration. His father is a lobbyist for a state builders' group that made a big donation to Walker's campaign. Click to catch up on previous stories about the flap. More»

(NEWSER) - A 20-year-old man has been arrested for a pipe attack on the mayor of Milwaukee as he came to the aid of the mother of the suspect's girlfriend, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Mayor Tom Barrett, 55, suffered a broken hand and head injuries when he confronted the attacker and dialed 911 on his phone. The confrontation began when the mayor heard a woman screaming as he attended the Wisconsin State Fair. Barrett is expected to fully recover. More»

He's on track to win recall election, become party star

(NEWSER) - Democrats hoped to teach conservatives a lesson about messing with Big Labor by recalling Scott Walker in Wisconsin. Except Walker is now leading in the latest polls, notes CNN , and he stands a good chance of winning on June 5. In fact, the attacks against Walker have all but turned him into a "conservative cult-hero," writes Robin Bravender in Politico , who says a victory will make him a rising star in the party. More»

Jeffrey Radle attempted to block wife from leaving

(NEWSER) - Let’s just say Jeffrey Radle and wife Amanda don’t quite see eye-to-eye politically: Amanda wanted to drive to the polls in her Wisconsin town Tuesday, but Jeffrey kept blocking her … so she eventually—allegedly—ran him over with her SUV. Jeffrey supports Gov. Scott Walker but Amanda wants him to be recalled, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explains. "She was planning on voting for a certain candidate [in the recall primary], and it wasn't the candidate he wanted her to vote for," says the police chief. More»