Although the RNC's recent pull out"" of Wisconsin seems to imply an easy Wisconsin victory for the Obama-Biden ticket, the GOP's decision to keep campaigning in the state still puts many things into question.
Recent polls show Barack Obama leading Wisconsin by a range of 12 to 15 points in a state that has historically been a nail biter, and it seems like John McCain and Sarah Palin are wasting precious time campaigning in primarily Republican counties, such as Waukesha, in a state in which they stand no chance in winning.
According to former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, however, it is not a waste of time for the GOP to remain in this state. What is a waste of time, he says, is to continue the use of their current strategy. Thompson believes the state of Wisconsin offers more support for the McCain-Palin ticket than it seems, but it is just a matter of making certain population groups realize it.
The population groups Thompson is referring to reside in the northern and western territories of Wisconsin, where he feels Gov.. Palin should be spending most of her campaign time. Thompson strongly feels that such population groups he defines as ""conservative Democrats, right-to-lifers, hunters, fishermen and snowmobilers"" who inhabit these areas will be able to relate to Palin.
What Thompson fails to realize is that regardless of how many ""hockey mom"" references Palin makes in these areas, it is not going to erase the 2.1 percent decrease in manufacturing jobs that Wisconsin experienced from June 2007 to July 2008. This decrease is one of many signs that point to a struggling economy that, according to a recent poll, is what three quarters of Wisconsinites are concerned with in the coming election.
Regardless of where in Wisconsin Palin campaigns, it will be difficult for somebody who has not had much to say about recovering the economy other than the obvious advantages of ""job creation"" to convince these northern and western Wisconsinites that she and McCain are going to change things. This would be especially difficult for Palin with regard to the recent exposure of her 25 percent increase in sales tax as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska to build a $15 million hockey rink.
Aside from any economic discomfort the average Wisconsinite seems to be struggling with, it is also unsafe for Thompson to assume the northern and western regions would all be pleased with the policies found on the McCain-Palin ticket.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin have been hard at work throughout the entire state that administered 8,000 abortions in 2007. Specific mailing hit districts in Western Wisconsin that feed information such as ""The Dangerous Policies of McCain-Palin turn back the clock on women. John McCain & Sarah Palin are dangerous to women's health,"" as well as that the ticket, ""Oppose[es] insurance coverage for birth control. Oppose[es] safe, legal abortion, even for rape victims. Oppose[es] funding for family planning health care, including breast and cervical cancer screening. Oppose[es] comprehensive, medically accurate sex education."" These issues will not sit too well, regardless of how much you hunt, fish, snowmobile or like hockey.
What exactly the GOP is trying to accomplish by being here is a question we may never know the answer to. If one thing is for sure, it is that Thompson's proposed strategy will have little, if any effect on the current lack of presidential competition. The degree to how wrong Thompson is makes perfect sense, considering that during all four terms that he was Governor, the Republicans did not seal a single presidential turnout in Wisconsin.
Dan Josephson is a senior majoring in political science and legal studies. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
