WAUWATOSA (WKOW) -- Yet another rally in Wisconsin this weekend, but this one a little different. Governor Scott Walker's supporters came out to a Wauwatosa park to celebrate the changes he's made in the state.
Event organizers say 4,000 people packed Hart Park in Wauwatosa, Walker's home town. They say it wasn't an anti-recall rally, but rather a chance to thank the governor for his work. But despite that, recall demonstrators still showed up.
Republican leaders spoke on Saturday, just a few days after recall organizers turned in more than one million signatures to the Government Accountability Board. All speakers asking the crowd to show their support for the governor in the next few months.
Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch was there, championing Walker's changes, along with Waukesha County area Republican politicians, like Rep. Alberta Darling (D)-Waukesha.
"Scott Walker has the vision to restore this state to a place of security and prosperity for our little ones," says Kleefisch.
But continuing his trend for the week, Walker was nowhere to be found. In his place, First Lady Tonette and one of their sons, speaking on his behalf.
"I've waited a long time to see a rally on the other side and I thank you, Scott thanks you, my children thank you, and everyone in Wisconsin thanks you for finally stepping up," says Tonette Walker.
A crowd of demonstrators formed outside the park. They're part of a group of union workers called "We are Milwaukee". They had to stay across the street from the rally, because rally organizers had rented the park for their own use, and blocked off entrance by their opponents.
Graeme Zielinski, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin was also there. He says the event's turnout paled in comparison to their showings in Madison earlier this year.
"This is a minuscule crowd. There's very few people here because not many people support the governor anymore. I think you saw that by the size of the recall petitions," says Zielinski.
Both sides, convinced they'll win in a few months.
"I think Scott Walker has a few months left as governor and then we're going to turn this state around," says Zielinski.
Kleefisch, saying "It doesn't end until we are celebrating on election night again."
Other big names showing up at the rally in support of Walker: former Gov. Tommy Thompson and former Congressman Mark Neumann.
