President Obama says he would have “loved to have seen a different result” following last week’s recall election in Wisconsin but other matters kept him from hitting the Badger State.
“The truth of the matter is that as president of the United States, I have a lot of responsibilities,” Obama told ABC affiliate WBAY of Green Bay during an interview at the White House on Monday.
Obama has been attacked by some Democrats for not campaigning for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett during his battle with Republican Gov. Scott Walker.
Obama says even though Barrett lost, he’s going to be “fighting very hard in Wisconsin,” a state Democrats have won for nearly two decades.
Asked if the recall results will have broader implications going beyond Wisconsin into the election, Obama responded, “I don’t think so.
“I think probably you’ve got specific circumstances in Wisconsin,” he said.
In the interview, Obama said other governors can learn a lesson from the Wisconsin recall: “My suspicion is that all across this country, governors who are dealing with tough budgets have to make tough decisions,” he said. “But one of the lessons learned is that it is better to make them with people than against people."
