Journal Sentinel endorses Walker

By MAGGIE HABERMAN
5/19/12 10:19 PM EDT

Politico:

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel backs Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in the impending recall race, saying, "We see no reason to remove Walker from office" and describing his rival, the city's Mayor, Tom Barrett, as too slow in his approach to governing:

Strip away such purple rhetoric, and you find that Barrett, like Walker, is a capable and honorable public servant. But this election isn't about Tom Barrett. It's about Scott Walker.

Even if you disagree with Walker's policies, does that justify cutting short his term as governor? And if so, where does such logic lead? To more recall elections? More turmoil?

It's time to end the bickering and get back to the business of the state. We've had our differences with the governor, but he deserves a chance to complete his term. We recommended him in 2010. We see no reason to change that recommendation. We urge voters to support Walker in the June 5 recall election.

Editorial page endorsements are sometimes ink blots - and the JS backed Walker in his initial race two years ago - but they can also be tests of which way the political winds are shifting.

The amount of outside money pouring into the race is massive, and the electorate there is highly polarized, meaning both sides have always believed it would be a narrow outcome next month. But there has been a sense that Walker, for all the polarizing he comes with, may survive.

* This post has been updated