LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW) – La Crosse County Republicans hit the phone lines in force Tuesday, with Governor Scott Walker facing spoiler candidate Arthur Kohl-Riggs on the GOP primary ballot.
"Our purpose is to get people out to vote for Governor Walker," said Julian Bradley, the Chair of La Crosse County's Republicans.
"A lot of people don't realize the Governor is on the ballot today, so objective one is getting people to know he's on the ballot and then objective two is making sure they know we need their support so we can move on to the recall election June 5."
Bradley said he expects primary turnout to be low on the GOP side, as Walker is widely expected to prevail.
But he added the Republicans' philosophy, both now and into June, is to get voters to the polls.
Bradley said more people voting should mean more votes for the Governor, and more votes in support of his decision to strip collective bargaining from most public workers.
"This is the chance for everyone to get out and let their voices be heard," Bradley said. "Come June 5, we anticipate a good turnout and we want a good turnout."
"We know the people of Wisconsin are seeing how the Governor's collective bargaining bill is working."
At the Democratic Headquarters, phones weren't as busy.
The party made calls Tuesday to support one of its state senate candidates.
But with four Democrats vying for the chance to unseat Governor Walker in June, the party isn't official backing any of them.
"The individual candidates are doing the calling themselves to drive out the voters," said La Crosse County Democrats' Chair Vicki Burke.
"I hear from some people that they get a lot of those calls," Burke said. "But we have some good evidence those calls do have an impact on the number of people who come out and vote."
Burke also said she thinks the four candidates on Tuesday's ballot all have strong backing, and thus will drive a lot of voters to the polls.
"People are very tuned in to what's going on," Burke said. "I anticipate we will have a large percentage of voters come out and vote in the Democratic Primary."
