After Wisconsin, the deluge

On Monday, Huffington Post published a piece I wrote about Bill Clinton campaigning for democracy in Washington, in which I called for every Democrat, progressive and reformer to vote. My point here is that once the ballots are counted in Wisconsin, the general-election campaign for president will begin in earnest and the liberal base of the Democratic Party will roused for the first time since 2008, no matter who wins in the Badger State.

Whether it's Scott Walker or Tom Barrett, there is an overwhelming view of Wisconsin Democrats, national Democrats and liberal and labor groups that President Obama and national Democrats should have done far more to support Barrett.

If Barrett wins it will be one of the great upsets of the year. If Walker wins there will be a backlash and reaction throughout the liberal, labor and progressive movements that will make the White House and insider Democrats in Washington uneasy, but prove to be a watershed moment in the 2012 campaign.

For today I renew my call for Democrats, liberals, progressives, workers, populists, reformers, students and women in Wisconsin to vote, vote, vote.

For tomorrow, whoever wins, remember where you heard it: The deluge begins.

And on Thursday, I predict my next column will get some tongues wagging and stimulate a very healthy debate for Democrats.

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