Obama campaign counsel Robert Bauer is again doing what he did in 2008 – attempt to get government officials on the side of the Obama campaign.  In Wisconsin, it appears to have made a difference.   The Washington Post:

“Pronouncing Election Day observers “the first line of defense” against illegal voting, the primer gives trainees some questionable or conflicting advice. At one point, for example, it says that convicted felons are ineligible to vote in Wisconsin. Not exactly true, according to Reid Magney, spokesman for the state’s Government Accountability Board, which administers elections. Felons who are out prison and have completed probation can vote, he said.

“Once you have completed the terms of your sentence your voting rights are restored in Wisconsin,” Magney said. A few pages later, it mentions that felons who have not had civil rights restored can be challenged at the polls.”

Bauer got exactly what he wanted – a public statement from Wisconsin election officials that the GOP training materials were in error. This is part of a calculated nationwide strategy.  Obama campaign officials have contacted other state election officials and demanded action.  In other instances, the state election officials have complied with the request without even first contacting the authors of the training materials. 

Bauer is notorious for making demands on election officials.  In speeches I give across the country, I describe how Bauer did the same thing in 2008.  He attempts to leverage law enforcement to the benefit of his campaign.  To the extent that so many inside election administration are partisan democrats (names later), this strategy often works. 

Obama campaign counsel Robert Bauer is again doing what he did in 2008 – attempt to get government officials on the side of the Obama campaign.  In Wisconsin, it appears to have made a difference.   The Washington Post:

“Pronouncing Election Day observers “the first line of defense” against illegal voting, the primer gives trainees some questionable or conflicting advice. At one point, for example, it says that convicted felons are ineligible to vote in Wisconsin. Not exactly true, according to Reid Magney, spokesman for the state’s Government Accountability Board, which administers elections. Felons who are out prison and have completed probation can vote, he said.

“Once you have completed the terms of your sentence your voting rights are restored in Wisconsin,” Magney said. A few pages later, it mentions that felons who have not had civil rights restored can be challenged at the polls.”

Bauer got exactly what he wanted – a public statement from Wisconsin election officials that the GOP training materials were in error. This is part of a calculated nationwide strategy.  Obama campaign officials have contacted other state election officials and demanded action.  In other instances, the state election officials have complied with the request without even first contacting the authors of the training materials. 

Bauer is notorious for making demands on election officials.  In speeches I give across the country, I describe how Bauer did the same thing in 2008.  He attempts to leverage law enforcement to the benefit of his campaign.  To the extent that so many inside election administration are partisan democrats (names later), this strategy often works.