Outsourcing: Arguably the most explosive issue in the campaign for governor
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Outsourcing is once again dominating the campaign for governor -- as Scott Walker and Mary Burke canvass for votes across Wisconsin. The candidates are trading barbs over the record of Burke's former company, Trek Bicycle.
Gov. Walker launched an ad a week ago that criticizes his likely Democratic opponent on her perceived strength -- her time as a Trek Bicycle executive.
Mary Burke fired back with another ad.
On Tuesday, the Walker campaign released another ad.
And just like that, outsourcing has become the most explosive issue in the campaign for governor.
"I think it shows Governor Walker really doesn't understand global business," said Burke.
"They have not disputed some of those jobs went to China -- where the average hourly rate is less than $2 per hour," said Gov. Walker.
"Trek pays above market wages wherever it is and it takes a lot of pride in being a great company that is backed by its employees," fired back Burke.
Burke points out that Gov. Walker's job creation agency, WEDC held Trek up as an example of a good Wisconsin company just a year ago.
"It shows this is all about Politics with Governor Walker, last year he's supporting Trek. This year he's attacking Trek," said Burke.
And Trek took out an ad in Sunday's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
"No matter how much money is spent on a newspaper ad out there, the bottom line is Mary Burke has personally benefitted from a company that took taxpayers money, sent jobs overseas," said Gov. Walker.
On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Republican Party filed a formal complaint with the Government Accountability Board, alleging the company broke the law by using corporate funds to directly aid a campaign.
"I know Trek felt it had to defend itself against these accusations from Governor Walker, and it is a sad day in Wisconsin when a great Wisconsin company actually has to defend itself against it's own governor," said Burke.
Trek's president said in a statement that Mary Burke did not make any manufacturing decisions.
"Mary Burke can't have it both ways she can't claim the reason people should vote for her is because she helped build this company into what it is today, at the same time disregard any responsibility for the decisions of a company she personally profits from," said Gov. Walker.
All of this comes just one day before the release of the widely anticipated Marquette University Law School poll, the gold standard of polling in Wisconsin. The last poll in May showed a tied race -- and both candidates say they expect this poll to show the race is close.