Romney: Wis. result offers conservatives hope

SAN ANTONIO -- Mitt Romney said yesterday conservatives should be emboldened by the failed attempt to recall Wisconsin's Republican governor. He also said the favorable outcome for Republicans could offer a dose of hope for his presidential campaign.

"Yesterday was won by the people of Wisconsin doing the right thing and voting for conservative principles," the likely Republican presidential nominee said to cheers at a fundraising luncheon.

Romney spoke by phone with Gov. Scott Walker after Tuesday's election, and issued a written statement in support. His comments yesterday were his first public remarks about the fierce contest that divided Wisconsin and perhaps reset the landscape of the Nov. 6 presidential election.

Romney said voters went with their gut, not their party, in keeping Walker in office for the remainder of his term.

"Even though they may have been Democrat or independent, they looked at the record of a conservative who cut back on the size of government, who held down taxes, who said we had to reform, in this case public sector unions that asked for too much, and then . . . went to the polls," Romney said.

Democrats and labor unions tried to oust Walker, who enacted measures to end bargaining rights for most public workers. Outside groups flooded the state with money, more than $66 million as of May 21, and ads that set a record for election spending in Wisconsin.

Republicans and Democrats cautioned against reading too much into the results, but Walker's solid victory served up a warning for President Barack Obama in a state he comfortably carried in 2008 and Democrats have won in six straight presidential elections.

The results offered Romney a dose of hope. For one thing, he will inherit Walker's vigorous political operation.

"It tends to be a blue state in presidential elections. We don't win a lot in Wisconsin. The last time we won Wisconsin was 1984," he said.

Walker defeated Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett for the second time.