The state of Wisconsin, and especially the city of Madison, has proven itself over the last century in terms of having a great political impact, and this year's election should reconfirm where it stands.
America witnessed the overwhelming effect that Wisconsin's vote carried in the 2008 primaries, a contest that added 42 delegates to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in a 58 percent victory over Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and further increased strength of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., by giving 55 percent of the Republican vote and 31 delegates.
Although McCain already had the nomination in the bag leading up to the primary, the effect of a strong state like Wisconsin was seen in the close, competitive race between the two standing Democrats. Wisconsin will now see a very heated, crucial battle among residents of a state that is possibly the most politically divided one in the country. In recent elections, Wisconsin has been intensely close, earning the label of a swing state"" that could potentially make or break the condition of this country for the next four years.
Although Wisconsin has swung Democratic as far back as the 1988 election, the last two terms have been painfully close. In the Bush-Gore standoff of 2000, an election that we unfortunately may never know the actual outcome of, Wisconsin voted Democratic by a mere 5,396 votes, leaving both parties with 48 percent of the state's support.
In the 2004 election between George W. Bush and John Kerry, Wisconsin swung Democratic in a slightly more lopsided turnout, with Kerry gaining 11,384 more votes than the incumbent Bush.
However, this is still only a 1 percent voting difference. Looking at the last two presidential elections, one can say that Wisconsin's turnout was irrelevant, considering that the party it chose the last two times wound up losing overall.
However, under the assumption that other key swing states may change their ways from 2004, Wisconsin's votes can and will make all the difference. Obama supporters will need Wisconsin to remain blue, especially if neighbor Michigan, which was also Democratic by the skin of its teeth last time around, decides to go red this time. McCain supporters will need Wisconsin to change its ways if swing state Ohio decides to lean more toward the Democratic candidate this time around, unlike how it has in the past.
Despite the historical competitiveness, it does make perfect sense that Wisconsin will not only remain Democratic this time around but also possibly widen the gap. In a state that has lost nearly 90 of its soldiers in Iraq alone, it seems implausible to think that it will support the candidate who not only voted for this war, but who plans on this country being there for another 10 decades.
It seems just as illogical for a state that administered over 8,000 abortions in 2007 to vote for the McCain ticket, considering that he and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin are both pro-life. In a state that so clearly values the right to choose, and in a time where such Christian values are being overlooked in McCain and Palin's own families with recent allegations of McCain's affair and news of Palin's 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy, the choice for Wisconsinites again seems obvious.
Nevertheless, it cannot be stressed enough how much power Wisconsin has. With a simple tweak of one swing state, any change, or lack thereof, in Wisconsin is going to tremendously affect both presidential candidates, for better or for worse.
Dan Josephson is a senior majoring in political science and legal studies. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
