How can someone be both Pro-Walker and Pro-Obama?

[Shrek]

20. Some commentary from TNR on this

http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/103904/electionate-live-blogs-the-wisconsin-recall

11:26PM: I'm observing quite a bit of effort devoted to explaining the Obama-Walker phenomenon.

My advice: remember that independent voters support candidates of exceptionally different ideological perspectives all the time. Many independent voters are independent precisely because they are less invested in the ideological battles that dominate partisan politics, so we can't be surprised that they're willing to cast ballots for candidates with seemingly contradictory ideological positions.

The simplest explanation might be the best: a majority of independents like both Walker and Obama. A pre-election Marquette Poll showed Walker up 7 and Obama up 8, with both candidates sporting favorability numbers over 50%. In contrast, Barrett and Romney were mired at 41 and 40%. For independent voters unswayed by contemporary ideological clashes, likability might just be the decisive factor.