Milwaukee County was the last one to hold out, but now its numbers are in too. Smells like … victory.

A conservative justice has weathered attempts to link him to Wisconsin’s governor and a divisive union rights law and won re-election, according to county vote totals finalized Friday.

Tallies from each of the state’s 72 counties show Justice David Prosser defeated challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg by 7,316 votes. State election officials said they will wait to declare an official winner until the deadline for Kloppenburg to seek a recount passes…

The law’s opponents hoped a Kloppenburg upset over Prosser would tilt the court to the left and set the stage for the justices to overturn the measure.

The recount deadline is 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Her supporters will have a fit if she doesn’t fight fight fight to the bitter end, so expect her to avail herself. The margin’s still close enough, in fact, that the state will cover the $1 million cost for her, a small price to pay to cast a slightly darker shadow of illegitimacy over Prosser’s win. But it won’t do any good: I wish I could remember where I saw it, but an analysis posted online a few days ago showed that no more than a few hundred votes have ever swung in a recount. Unless state investigators shock the world and find that there really were shenanigans afoot in Waukesha County, the fight’s over. And now that Prosser’s knocked out the commies, there’s only one thing left to do. Speech!

Update: Actually, follow that last link for a breakdown of how unlikely it is that a recount will make a difference. Quote: “David Schultz, an election law professor at Hamline University in Minnesota, said even statewide recounts typically result in changes of a just few hundred votes at most.”

Update: Can you feel it?

April 15, 2011 Statement from Campaign Spokesman Brian J. Nemoir Regarding Completion of all Statewide Canvases and Justice David Prosser’s Victory:

“Today, the will of the electorate is clear with the last canvas now completed and
Justice David Prosser reelected to another 10 year term to the Supreme Court. Justice Prosser extends his appreciation and respect to Joanne Kloppenburg and her spirited campaign.

With certified results in‐hand, Justice Prosser hopes that a shared respect for the judiciary allows the campaign to move to a positive conclusion.

Justice Prosser looks forward to thanking the voters of Wisconsin and is expected
make a public address in the near‐future.”