Daily Recall Election Roundup: May 1

Every day between now and the May 8 primary recall elections, Patch will provide regular updates on what's happening in the campaigns of those who want to be our next governor. Check back with this column throughout the day for the latest from the campaign trail.

5:25 p.m.: Christie compares Wisconsin's plight to New Jersey's

Chris Christie and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker shared a stage in Oak Creek as the New Jersey governor rallied a partisan crowd to support Walker in his recall battle.

Christie said New Jersey faced some of the same challenges as Wisconsin when he took office. Like Walker, he followed a Democratic administration and was forced to take on a massive deficit with a population already overtaxed, he said.

He fixed those problems, and now New Jersey residents and businesses are reaping the benefits, Christie said. Taxes for businesses were already cut and income taxes will be cut later this year.

"What I want to do is give Scott and you in Wisconsin a little preview of what good conservative governance can do for a state," Christie said to roars from a crowd of about 200 at a local landscaping company.

2:30 p.m. More reaction from Dems on New Jersey Gov. Christie's Wisconsin visit

Kathleen Falk, Democratic candidate for governor, released the following statement regarding with Gov. Scott Walker:

"Chris Christie can leave his state for Wisconsin and Scott Walker can leave our state for his national fundraising tour, but they can't hide from voters when it comes to their extreme records and their war on women. Neither governor shares our Wisconsin values."

And from the Barrett for Wisconsin Communications Director Phil Walzak:

"The day after reporting millions in massive donations primarily from super-rich, out-of-state right-wing partisans, Walker is turning to another out-of-state partisan to prop up his campaign.  Both Scott Walker and Chris Christie are ideological warriors pursuing extreme agendas. Both are managing economies that lost jobs last month. Both are conservative celebrities and darlings of the national right-wing elite. So while Scott Walker and Chris Christie are perfect for each other, they are both flat-out wrong for Wisconsin. Tom Barrett knows governing shouldn't be about pursuing a 'my way or the highway' ideological agenda; it must be about doing what's right for people."

11:55 a.m.: Falk touts her plan for education; rips Walker

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Falk stood at the door of Milwaukee's Phillis Wheatley School Tuesday morning to talk about her plans for Wisconsin's education, calling it the "pathway to a better economy and jobs."

Surrounded by supporters, Falk criticized Republican Gov. Scott Walker for making the largest cut to public schools in the state's history. She added that Walker's push to funnel taxpayer dollars into private school vouchers is a "step in the wrong direction."

"Public dollars should go to public education, and that's my belief," Falk said. "The single biggest investment we can make is an investment in our children... Governor Walker chose to balance the budget on the back of one sector."

Falk said there is not one thing in Walker's controversial budget that she agrees with, saying the large cut in Wisconsin's public education system wasn't necessary given the other areas the governor allocated money.

In addition, Falk addressed Gov. Walker's repeal of the Wisconsin's equal pay law, saying he is "tearing apart women's rights." 

"Who better to end the war on women than a woman?" Falk asked.

11:30 a.m. Falk Appeals to Women in 30-Second TV Spot

Democratic candidate Kathleen Falk is appealing to women in a new ad, accusing Gov. Scott Walker of having "counted you out" through his job creation record and the repeal of the Equal Pay Enforcement Act, according to the Huffington Post.

"Kathleen Falk's been counted out too," the ad's narrator says. "They said a woman couldn't win for county executive. She proved them wrong."

11:10 a.m.: Gov. Walker announces expansion of Shawano-based company

On the same day he announced a $100 million initiative to aimed at drawing businesses to Milwaukee, Gov. Scott Walker announced Tuesday the creation of 48 new jobs at Shawano-based Mod-Tech Industries.

A $2.8 million expanship plan as a result of a partnership between the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and Mod-Tech through the Economic Development Tax Credit Program was agreed to Monday. The plan creates 48 positions and retains another 52, according to a news release issued by Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie on Tuesday.

"Continuing to create jobs through this private sector economic development project will help the Shawano and surrounding communities,” Walker said in the release. “I remain focused on helping the people of Wisconsin create jobs.”

Mod‐Tech industries is a world-class supplier of marine, hydraulic, truck, bus, railroad, agriculture and heavy equipment suppliers. Many of their main customers are Wisconsin-based businesses.

10:30 a.m.: Democrats react to Christie's Wisconsin visit

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is in Wisconsin Tuesday — and Democrats are wasting no time bashing the "rock star" of the Republican Party.

"Chris Christie and Scott Walker have been leaders, each in their own way, in shrinking the middle class, rolling back the freedoms their states have enjoyed and salting the earth for the working families they were put into office to serve," said Mike Tate, chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. "In the radical, divisive and publicity-seeking way that each has gone about their business, each must find quite a bit to admire in the other."

A group called One New Jersey piled on as well:

"Today, America’s two most anti-middle-class governors are joining forces, as One Percent Governor Chris Christie heads to Wisconsin to headline two fundraisers for fellow One Percent Governor Scott Walker. By rushing to Walker's aid during this historic recall, it is clear which side Christie stands on in the struggle between middle-class families and corporate interests.

"Walker and Christie are cut from the same Koch Brothers cloth. They both do the bidding of deep-pocketed backers at the expense of the middle-class and share the same political D.N.A when it comes to harming the working families who make up the backbone of their states. Just like Walker, Christie demonizes public unions and puts collective bargaining in the crosshairs as the centerpiece of so-called 'reform.'

Walker's campaign, of course, had a slightly different take on Christie's visit to Oak Creek.

"New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will be visiting the Oak Creek area with Governor Scott Walker to meet with local residents and encourage supporters to continue spreading the word on how Governor Walker's reforms are turning Wisconsin around," the campaign said.