Wisconsin Exit Polls, Good News for Obama?, Bipartisan Cellmates, Santorum's Big Announcement and More Job Creationism (PM Note)
Before we get to Wisconsin, a great story out of Pennsylvania - former Pennsylvania House Speakers Share Jail Cell - They used to share a gavel. Now, apparently, they're sharing a jail cell. John Perzel, a Republican from Philadelphia and Bill Deweese, a Democrat from Greene, share the distinction of both having served as Speaker of the Pennsylvania State House. - http://abcn.ws/JU7Wge (Meghan Kiesel)
Wisconsin polls close at 9 p.m. ET.
Check into OTUS News.com http://otusnews.com and ABC News.com all night for the latest.
The first exit polls suggest it's a big night for…. Barack Obama? - even though he's not on the ballot - From ABC Pollster Gary Langer - Whatever Scott Walker's fate, Barack Obama may drag some bragging rights out of the Wisconsin governor's recall election: Voters in preliminary exit poll results today say they favor Obama over Mitt Romney in November's presidential election by a slight 6-point margin (51-45 percent). These results are preliminary so it remains to be seen if that result will hold in final exit poll results later tonight. If so, it might provide Obama forces with push back should Walker, the incumbent Republican, prevail in the recall election against Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, the mayor of Milwaukee.
Barrett lost to Walker when the two faced off in 2010. One possible boost for Barrett this year comes from union voters: Nearly a third of voters in preliminary exit poll results say they're from union households, up from 26 percent two years ago. And slightly more than half say they have a favorable impression of public employee unions; restrictions on such unions that were backed by Walker led to the recall. But voters in these preliminary results divide almost exactly evenly on Walker's handling of those unions, with high levels of strong sentiment on both sides. http://abcn.ws/LnjszC
Forget Tobacco - There is also voting in California - the exciting new jungle primary - and a really expensive tobacco tax race - http://abcn.ws/NfJebc
Bill Clinton Said Something About the Bush Tax Cuts - But we're still puzzling over the CNBC transcript to figure out what it was - It sorta sounded like he supported a temporary extension. Obama does not - http://abcn.ws/LohATn
New Gov-era Romney Emails Important on Mandate, Disclosure - http://abcn.ws/Ljr083
What to Watch in Today's Voting Standoffs - Wisconsin recall; Wisconsin State Senate; California's Congressional change; Obama v. Clinton in NJ House race; cigarette tax proposal - http://abcn.ws/NDhpHF
'Paycheck Fairness' Falls in the Senate - http://abcn.ws/KCSfeh
Fact Checking the Walker Economy - At the heart of today's highly anticipated recall election in Wisconsin is a battle over the collective bargaining rights of public sector unions. But as often happens with statewide elections, the race has expanded to become a referendum on Wisconsin's economy under Gov. Scott Walker. http://abcn.ws/LvNGyh (Elizabeth Hartfield)
In Intelligence Leaks, McCain Sees Effort to Make Obama Look Strong on Security - http://abcn.ws/Me2pAi
The Mystery Of Rick Santorum's 'Big' Friday Announcement, Solved - On Monday, Rick Santorum teased on Twitter: "I have a big announcement coming on Friday! Stay tuned!"On Tuesday, sources close to Santorum tell ABC News that the former presidential candidate will be announcing the formation of a 501 c(4) organization that he will use to pursue a set of issues he has fought for during much of his political career. http://abcn.ws/KaFtnQ(Falcone and Walshe)
Job Creationism: Tues Edition - Which candidate for president inherited a contracting economy during his first term in office and presided over a gradual recovery that turned job losses to gains? The answer: Both President Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. http://abcn.ws/MAcaLY
Tapper's Q's for O's WH: And countries claim terrorism as a justification for their actions all the time. Even positing that the United States, under any president, only acts righteously every time, is there not any concern that a precedent is being set either for some future president and/or any other country? http://abcn.ws/NFwj03
California Prop 8 Headed to U.S. Supreme Court - A federal appeals court in California has denied a petition to have Prop 8 -the 2008 California ballot initiative that defines marriage as between a man and a woman - further reviewed by a larger panel of judges, which means the case likely is headed to the Supreme Court of the United States. - http://abcn.ws/Lj1tfh
Why Things Don't Happen - Boehner admitted "it's hard to keep 218 frogs in a wheelbarrow" and other reasons nothing gets done from John Parkson - http://abcn.ws/Lxx3mm
Student Loan Standoff Continues and So Does Finger Pointing - The Senate Minority Leader declared it is the White House, not Congress, that is preventing an agreement to avoid the student loan rates from doubling in July. - http://abcn.ws/L0ZolF
Romney Curiously Mum on Walker Recall Election - For a candidate who could get a boost if Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker manages to keep his job after today's recall election, presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney has stayed curiously quiet mum on the election since he last visited the state more than two months ago. - http://abcn.ws/L0AYbL
Veep Beat: Paul Ryan Goes Solo for Romney in N.C - While his state is engaged in a recall election today, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., will fly solo today in Raleigh, N.C., this morning when he holds a roundtable at Big Ed's City Market on behalf of Mitt Romney, who will campaign in Texas today. Ryan and Romney tag-teamed Wisconsin in early April when the duo crisscrossed the state campaigning together. Later in the evening, Ryan will headline a dinner held by the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. - http://abcn.ws/KtIcsl