First, the person being recalled is a proven vote-getter, since they are already in office. So that's the first handicap. They have already shown that they can get over 50 percent of the vote.
Second, not everybody supports the idea of recalls. Many people believe that win or lose, elections should stand. It's sort of the electoral equivalent of 'stare decisis' (or whatever it's called), where you don't go around reversing court decisions. Once something is established, it stands.
Third, this was a big deal, with lots of media coverage. Both the left and right were out in full force. And relating to my first point, if all things are equal in the recall, the incumbent has the edge, because they won the first time and have the advantage of my second point, which is people who don't support them not thinking that recalls are a precedent that should be set. You need Gray Davis levels of unpopularity to win a recall and that just wasn't present this time in Wisconsin.
Recalls are supposed to be difficult. That's why they are special. I don't fault anyone for this outcome. People gave it their best shot and came up short. It happens. You can't win them all.
A recall isn't for when a vocal segment opposes a leader. It's for when that leader is discredited and there is a consensus to throw them out. There was no consensus this time and that's why it failed.