Walker, Barrett to meet in final debate

GREEN BAY - Governor Scott Walker and Tom Barrett will have their second and final debate Thursday night ahead of the recall election.

Wisconsin voters will get their last chance to see the two candidates talk about the issues face-to-face.

Walker and Barrett will go head-to-head once again after their first debate last Friday.

The two wrangled over a number of issues, including why the recall is happening.

"I think it's about reforms, at least that's the way it started out. We don't hear a lot about it largely because our reforms are working. You look at the last year and a half, and we've documented more than a billion dollars worth of savings because of our reforms," Walker said.

"He has divided the state unlike anything we've ever seen, and as a result of that, what we've seen in this state is we saw hundreds of thousands of people, hundreds of thousands of people in this democracy, who decided that they wanted a change," said Barrett.

UW-Green Bay political science professor Scott Furlong doesn't expect this next debate to be much different.

"There'll be an attempt by Barrett to push Scott Walker on particular issues and make a case that he's not been a good representative as a governor of the state of Wisconsin," Furlong said.

Furlong said Walker will emphasize his record in office over the past 18 months.

"That he's been an effective governor, and he's created jobs, he's beginning the process of turning the economy around," said Furlong.

Some people we spoke with said they have no interest in seeing this debate, while others say they'll be watching even if they've already made up their minds.

"Just in case Walker and Barrett would say something that would change my mind, you know, but I have it 99 percent made up. I don't think I'll be changing my mind," said Chris Dantoin of Casco.

When asked if there is anything the candidates could say that would change his mind, Brett Pribyl of Green Bay said, "Absolutely not. No I think the person I'm going to vote for come next week Tuesday is going to be the right choice."

"The core constituencies of these two candidates is very strong. I guess the question is, for those who have not decided, how wide is that gap and how many of those people are out there and are they even paying much attention to the election," said Furlong.

Turnout is predicted to be as high as 65% which is nearing levels normally seen in presidential contests.

"That's very dramatic I think because you don't do elections in June and if you can actually get that many people showing up I think it does show a sense of people caring about this one way or the other," Furlong said.

The debate begins at 9 p.m. and is being broadcast statewide from Milwaukee.

We'll have the very latest Friday morning on Good Day Wisconsin.