Justice David Prosser clung to a narrow lead over Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg in the state Supreme Court race early Wednesday, after a hard-fought campaign dominated by political forces and outside interest groups.
But even with 97% of the vote counted, less than 2,000 votes separated the candidates.
That close margin had political insiders from both sides talking about the possibility of recounts, which Wisconsin has avoided in statewide races in recent decades. Any recount could be followed by lawsuits - litigation that potentially would be decided by the high court.
The razor-thin result was the latest twist in Wisconsin's ongoing political turmoil. The state has drawn the attention of the nation in recent weeks because of the fight over collective bargaining, which caused massive weeks-long protests in the Capitol, a boycott of the Senate by Democrats and the attempts to recall senators from both parties.
Interest groups on both sides had portrayed the election as a referendum on Gov. Scott Walker's agenda and particularly on a controversial law sharply restricting public employee unions. Conservatives backed Prosser, and liberals supported Kloppenburg, even though the candidates themselves insisted they were politically neutral.
I am so tired.
Thinking about moving to a shack in Montana.
No electricity, but no taxes.
No protesters. No union thugs.
No one demonizing anyone. No one calling anyone "Hitler." Just birds singing.
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County vote results.
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