Wis. Probes Gov. Vote-Buying Charges
By JENNY PRICE
Associated Press Writer
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A prosecutor said Wednesday he is investigating allegations that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Doyle's campaign traded food and money to secure votes at a bingo party.
WTMJ-TV reported Tuesday that Doyle campaign workers set up the party and offered free soda, coffee and pastries to residents of a low-income hotel in Kenosha. After the bingo, the residents were told they could vote by absentee ballot in another room.
Kenosha County District Attorney Robert Jambois said he planned to drive to WTMJ in Milwaukee later Wednesday to view footage the station shot at the hotel, which showed residents winning cans of soda and quarters during the games.
State law prohibits giving people anything worth more than $1 to try to get them to vote or keep them from voting. WTMJ reported that many residents won 75 cents in quarters and a can of soda, along with the pastry.
Doyle, the state attorney general, is locked in a tight race with Republican Gov. Scott McCallum. Doyle's campaign did not immediately return a call Wednesday.
Jambois said the event was held at the Dayton Hotel, which caters to people on state and federal assistance on reduced rent. Some have psychological or mental health issues and some are simply unemployed, Jambois said.
An Elections Board official called prosecutors to tell them about the TV report, Jambois said. He said there is nothing illegal about the actual voting.
Rick Graber, chairman of the state Republican Party, said the Doyle campaign's "exploitation of the mentally disabled to score a few votes is appalling, unscrupulous and downright immoral."
A poll released Tuesday shows Doyle holding a narrow lead over the governor.
The We the People/Wisconsin statewide poll of 600 likely voters showed Doyle with 46 percent support and McCallum with 38 percent. The sampling margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points.