Wisconsin a Battleground in Race for Big Cheese

By
NITYA VENKATARAMAN
September 12, 2008, 4:14 PM ET
1 min read

— -- Who will Wisconsin elect for the role of "Big Cheese" in the November general election?

During the Democratic primary, Sen. Barack Obama emerged victorious over Sen. Hillary Clinton in the battleground state's February contest -- 58 percent to 41 percent.

In 2004, Democrat John Kerry eked out a Wisconsin win in the general election with less than 12,000 votes; in 2000, Vice President Al Gore defeated then-Gov. George Bush by less than 6,000. Operatives on both sides of the aisle expect a tight race again in 2008.

Both Obama and Sen. John McCain have invested millions in advertising to badger voters in the Badger State.

Early polling indicates Obama holds a double-digit lead, but the race in Wisconsin will be fought county by county -- an Obama victory will rely on strong turnout from both African-American voters in Milwaukee and the college-age set in Madison. The Western part of the state tilts right and it is there the McCain campaign hopes to leave lasting footprints.