Walker says he doesn’t know how much he’ll spend

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker says he doesn’t know how much he will spend to oppose efforts to recall him from office.

Walker said Wednesday that he intends to spend “enough to get our message out. I don’t know what that number is.”

As the target of a recall, Walker is able to raise an unlimited amount of money until the state Government Accountability Board orders the recall election. But that could be extended well past February through legal fights.

Recall organizers have until Jan. 17 to collect the necessary 540,000 signatures. They began circulating those petitions on Tuesday.

In the 2010 governor’s race Walker won, an estimated $37 million was spent. In nine state Senate recall elections this summer an estimated $44 million was spent.