Historic recall elections put spotlight on Wisconsin - Jason Stein and Tom Tolan

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/127252818.html

I'm watching this closer than any stupid overnight poll or random debate that lasts for a news cycle. This will tell us more about the electorate in 2011 than just about anything out there. Unions see this as a place for them to hold the line and force back losses sustained over the last 30 years. Republicans see this as a foot on the coffin lid, and they desperately want to force it shut.

If the Republicans suffer in the recall, union power may cause other legislatures to shy away from the sort over far-reaching legislation that passed in Wisconsin. Or, they may simply avoid Scott Walker's tactic of being an utter asshole about it and try the Chris Christie or Andrew Cuomo method instead.