ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Pasch Feeling Optimistic as Vote Nears

Editor's Note: As the 8th Senate District campaign winds down, Patch is spending part of Saturday and Sunday on the campaign trail with Republican and Democratic challenger Sandy Pasch. This is one of two stories and accompanying videos on the last-minute campaigning by the two candidates.

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Less than 48 hours from the time the polls open for the 8th Senate District recall election, Sandy Pasch is circulating among her dozens of supporters at her Glendale campaign headquarters, gearing up for yet another day of phone calls and door knocking in an effort to get out the vote.

Pasch said she is feeling very optimistic about the number of supporters she has behind her, and on Sunday afternoon, she said their main focus was making sure those voters make their way to the polls.

“For the past few months we’ve been knocking on doors, calling people, discussing the issues, identifying our supporters and persuading people who are on the fence. We feel really good about our base that we have and the people who are supporters of this campaign and this effort to get our state going,” she said. “We just have to make sure they all get out to vote at the polls.”

Pasch, a Democratic state representative from Whitefish Bay, is challenging state Sen. Alberta Darling, a 20-year incumbent Republican from River Hills, in Tuesday's recall election.

In the final campaign push this weekend, the campaign saw 400 volunteers join the cause Saturday, and nearly 300 volunteers as of mid-afternoon Sunday.

One of those supporters, Jeffrey Perzan of Whitefish Bay, said there is a feeling in the North Shore that Darling hasn’t been responsive, and he and his neighbors are working for a more representative voice in the Senate.

“The grassroots effort of this campaign has been so phenomenal,” he said.

Volunteer Helaine Glass agreed, saying this election has high stakes for the future.

“I think it’s important that Sandy Pasch win this election to get Wisconsin back on track to supporting children, education, seniors and healthcare and the middle class instead of special-interest groups and big business,” she said.

Pasch said the rigors and stresses of the campaign can be exhausting, but she is reminded of the driving force behind the campaign every time she enters the bustling headquarters and feeds off of the energy of her supporters.

“This just drives home that this is about us. This is about the people of Wisconsin speaking up saying, ‘We don’t like this direction, we don’t like the neglect of our values,' ” she said. “I think they start fueling off of each other, that they feel like a part of something big, to take back the state of Wisconsin.”