There are re three important factors in this election.
1. Turnout.
2. Turnout.
3. And finally, most importantly, turnout.
Unions are supposed to be good at turnout. However, according to the Wall Street Journal:
Wisconsin membership in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees—the state's second-largest public-sector union after the National Education Association, which represents teachers—fell to 28,745 in February from 62,818 in March 2011, according to a person who has viewed Afscme's figures. A spokesman for Afscme declined to comment.Much of that decline came from Afscme Council 24, which represents Wisconsin state workers, whose membership plunged by two-thirds to 7,100 from 22,300 last year.
Walker made withholding union dues from an employee's paychecks up to the employee.