Economy the focus on gubernatorial campaign trail

MADISON -- There are less than two weeks until voters take to the polls in the gubernatorial recall election race, and voters are seeing all kinds of confusing information on jobs and the economy. So, is Wisconsin bleeding business, or is the state adding jobs?

Gov. Scott Walker spent Wednesday, May 23rd campaigning in a key voting battleground - the Fox Valley. Walker once again focused on the economy at an Oshkosh manufacturer.

"In the last year, Marvel Manufacturing has gone from 76 employees to 88 right now. They're going to hire two more shortly here, so from 76 up to 90 employees," Gov. Walker said.

Touring Marvel Manufacturing metal saw factory Wednesday, Walker said he wants to cut through what he sees as campaign distractions and talk instead about the most important issue for the voters - the economy.

"The mayor in the primary talked about tax incentives for manufacturers and others as something he's talking about repealing. We think that would be a bad idea. Raising taxes on manufacturers would be a bad idea," Gov. Walker said.

In response, Milwaukee Mayor and Democratic candidate for governor Tom Barrett said..."What I want to ensure is that tax cuts are tied to job growth, and to me that's what's important."

Barrett spent Wednesday campaigning in Black River Falls - about 200 miles northwest of Milwaukee. Barrett said Walker's record on job creation is suspect.

"He became so preoccupied with becoming the poster boy of the Tea Party and the far right, that he took his eye off the prize which was to create jobs," Barrett said.

Nearly all of Walker's campaign stops have been inside factories, while Barrett has made a point to meet and greet voters.

"You can see that these are not orchestrated stops. In fact, there's a tracker for the Republican Party who's in here today, so we're not shutting anybody out, and I want to talk to the people of this state," Barrett said.

An analysis by the Beacon Hill Institute for Public Policy Research found that Walker's reforms likely saved between 11,000 and 14,000 jobs.

"I just saw that report last night. I think that's positive news. We haven't looked at that directly. What we did document whether here in the Fox cities, or all over the state, that our reforms have saved taxpayers over $1 million," Walker said.

A new poll out Wednesday shows Gov. Walker with a lead in the recall race. The poll, done by St. Norbert College, shows that 50 percent of those polled would vote for Walker. 45 percent would vote for Barrett. Five percent are not sure. The poll has a margin of error of five percent.