Tom Barrett

The hotly contested issue of whether to recall Wisconsin's Republican governor has the state's voters evenly divided, according to a newly released poll. Gov. Scott Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, his most likely Democratic opponent, were virtually tied, with Barrett leading 47%-46% among all registered voters and Walker ahead 48%-47% among those most likely to vote, according to the poll by Marquette University Law School. Barrett holds a strong and growing lead over three other Democrats a week before the party's May 8 primary, the poll showed.

More than 200 guests have begun filing into the White House for a state dinner honoring German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a night when German heritage trumped Hollywood glitz, compared with other Obama administration soirees. The guest list, provided by the White House, is dominated by administration and government officials from Washington and Berlin. More than half a dozen members of Congress also scored invitations, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

House Republican Paul Ryan of Wisconsin is considering a run for the U.S. Senate after Friday’s retirement announcement by Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl Ryan, appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, said he would announce his decision “very quickly.” Noting that Kohl just announced his intentions, Ryan said: “It was a bit of a surprise to all of us and so my family and supporters, we’ve just started digesting this.” ...

WASHINGTON - Wisconsin's Republican Gov. Scott Walker, fresh from his victory in last week's recall election, has been on something of a victory lap, making the circuit of Washington newsmaker venues and offering public advice to Mitt Romney's campaign. On Sunday, Walker was on CBS' "Face the Nation" program. Thursday, it was the breakfast session sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor , a longstanding institution that gives ambitious politicians a chance to speak to an audience of Washington correspondents.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., which is losing its 64-year grip on the title as the world's No. 1 tire maker, said today it plans to cut 1,100 jobs and take a $35-million quarterly charge as it implements a major restructuring plan. The restructuring, announced in April, would include Goodyear's tire business and perhaps other North American operations.

Tommy Thompson, the former Wisconsin governor and U.S. health secretary, holds a narrowing lead in the bitter Dairy State Republican U.S. Senate primary with less than a week to go before the Aug. 14 vote, according to a new poll from the Marquette University Law School. The survey, however, showed that more than 1 in 5 likely primary voters were still undecided, giving a measure of hope to Thompson's three rivals, including deep-pocketed hedge fund investor Eric Hovde whom the former governor led by 28% to 20% in the survey.

As Wisconsin voting places were closing, exit polls showed the recall race in a dead heat between Gov. Scott Walker and challenger Tom Barrett. Turnout in the state had been extremely heavy all day, appearing to match the predictions of state officials that 60%-65% of voting-age adults would turn out. The state allows same-day voter registration - a practice that encourages high turnout.  Although polls officially close at 8 p.m. local time (6 p.m. Pacific), Wisconsin allows voters in line by poll-closing time to vote.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Mitt Romney, who avoided getting entangled in the Wisconsin recall election, cheered the victory of Republican Gov. Scott Walker, saying voters of varying ideological backgrounds embraced conservative ideals such as reducing the size of government and reforming union power in the public sector. "My optimism about the country comes in part from the fact that I'm optimistic about the ability of the American people to do the right thing right now. And I say that because of this.

MILWAUKEE - Just ahead of Tuesday's recall election, a new Marquette University Law School poll shows Republican Gov. Scott Walker holding a 52%-to-45%  lead over Democratic challenger Tom Barrett among likely Wisconsin voters. The survey, conducted mostly before Walker and Barrett faced off Friday in the first of two televised debates, shows voter sentiment remarkably hardened, with just 3% of those questioned saying they were still undecided. While that may seem tough news for Democrats and public employee unions who led the charge for the recall, another new survey released by Democratic pollster Celinda Lake tells a different story of a race that has tightened to a dead heat, with both candidates polling at 49%. The Lake poll, conducted mostly after last week's debate, show independents turning toward Barrett.

President Obama had hoped to be in Dallas this weekend, rooting on his Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLV. But with his hometown team knocked out of the playoffs, he's settling for a viewing party at home with a dose of star power, with Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony headlining a White House gathering Sunday. This will be the third year Obama has hosted a Super Bowl party, and the biggest so far with more than 100 people having accepted invitations. Guests will watch the game between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on the State Floor of the White House, rather than in the White House theater as in past years.