Can the GOP win Wisconsin?

[Mr. Taft Republican]

Seeing the history of the place, I'm leaning towards saying not really.

It's certainly possible. But it's also possible we'll win DC, nominate Gary Johnson, and Jello Biafra will be president.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Of course its possible. If GOP is at 52% or 53% in the popular vote, then they probably will. It won't be what gets them to 270 if that is what people are thinking in this thread.

[Lincoln Republican]

To quote a famous American

Yes we can!

Besides, it's time for some good old fashion union bustin' in the Badger State.

Knock 'em down a notch or two, if ya know what I mean.

[krazen1211]

Actually, I'm not the guy calling anyone names.

Really?

The treacherous Senate Democrats are far less popular than that.

Reaaaalllly?

that's why they flee like criminals

Calling people treacherous and comparing them to criminals is not name calling how? I don't care who started it, but if you're going to continue it you have no standing to call name calling a bad thing.

I'm not calling them criminals for the sake of calling them criminals, unlike the union lords that called Senator Russell Decker a whore.

Rather, they are criminals because they betrayed the Quorum Clause of their oath and are being pursued by state police.

[DS0816]

Can the GOP win Wisconsin?

No.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

If WI is really at threat, then most of the lean D states have already gone.

Despite Bush coming close, I would doubt the GOP could get WI.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

The only poll I saw on Walker's anti-union plan said 52-42 net disapproval, so that's not going to help.

The treacherous Senate Democrats are far less popular than that.

I'm sure that's going to make lots of Wisconsin independents want Sarah Palin as their President. They'll be so sore over the Democrats in the Senate (treacherous, lol) leaving the state almost two years ago they'll vote for any Republican for President. Makes lots of sense.

[Sbane]

Of course its possible. If GOP is at 52% or 53% in the popular vote, then they probably will. It won't be what gets them to 270 if that is what people are thinking in this thread.

You don't think Wisconsin is almost at the national average? I think Colorado, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are all in the same category now. Slight lean Dem. Just a tad more Democratic than Virginia.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

The only poll I saw on Walker's anti-union plan said 52-42 net disapproval, so that's not going to help.

The treacherous Senate Democrats are far less popular than that.

I'm sure that's going to make lots of Wisconsin independents want Sarah Palin as their President. They'll be so sore over the Democrats in the Senate (treacherous, lol) leaving the state almost two years ago they'll vote for any Republican for President. Makes lots of sense.

And good thing that Manchin had an 80% approval rating so that Obama was able to beat the crap out of McCain in WV.

[HAnnA MArin County]

It all ultimately depends on the usuals: turnout, the economy/unemployment, national environment, and who the Republicans nominate.

If you choose to look at 2008 and believe the PPP polls that have been done in Wisconsin, then the obviously answer is no.

However, if you subscribe to what happened in 2010 combined with the razor-thin margins in 2000 and 2004, then yes.

As someone mentioned on here (and I agree), Wisconsin is a purple state. Obama only won it by 13 points in 2008 because it was a good year for Democrats and possibly regional/geographic appeal (every state bordering Illinois went blue save for Missouri, a fluke, and Kentucky, an Appalachian red state where Obama was never popular and was hammered during the primaries).

IMO, I think it's very likely for the GOP to contest and possibly win the Upper Midwest states of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan (assuming they nominate a mainstream/sane candidate and not a fringe/teabagger).

[Хahar 🤔]

This board really is utterly pointless, isn't it?

[HAnnA MArin County]

This board really is utterly pointless, isn't it?

Pretty much.

[phk]

Bush would have won it in 2004 had he not underperformed.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Bush would have won it in 2004 had he not underperformed.

I think the 2004 election is about Kerry's under-performance not Bush's.

[Brittain33]

The only poll I saw on Walker's anti-union plan said 52-42 net disapproval, so that's not going to help.

The treacherous Senate Democrats are far less popular than that.

Congressional Republicans were far less popular than President Obama going into the 2010 elections, and about on par with the Dems.

[DrScholl]

New poll numbers. Obviously, those treacherous Democrats are in trouble, while Walker is rising to the top.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/22/wiscon-polls-oppose-walker_n_826359.html

[Capitan Zapp Brannigan]

To be fair that is an AFL-CIO poll.

[DrScholl]

To be fair that is an AFL-CIO poll.

Clearly it is, but that doesn't mean the numbers are skewed.

[krazen1211]

Congressional Republicans were far less popular than President Obama going into the 2010 elections, and about on par with the Dems.

Of course, that's very true. Obama's problem was lack of economic and job growth. Walker has 2 years to accomplish that.

You are correct, however, in that the executive tends to take the hit. Not from a bunch of special interest protesters who were already straight ticket D voters, but rather from the critical  independent voters.

[Brittain33]

Walker's willing to take the gamble that your read on the issue is right, that Wisconsin voters in 2012 are more in line with NJ voters in 2009 and WI voters in 2010 than they have been in the past. We'll see if the state senators are as sanguine about their silent majority. I don't pretend to know how they feel, but I do know property taxes and teacher pay are a lot lower in WI than in NJ.

[Mehmentum]

To be fair that is an AFL-CIO poll.

Clearly it is, but that doesn't mean the numbers are skewed.

Other polls have shown similar results, which gives some credence to the AFL-CIO poll.
http://weaskamerica.com/2011/02/18/weirdness-in-wisconsin/
43.05 aprove and 51.9% dissaprove of the bill
this almost exactly matches the AFL-CIO poll's approval rating of Walker.

PPP also did a poll of Walker's favorability in the beginning of January.
http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2011/01/rating-new-governors.html
41% had a favorable opinon while 49% had an unfavorable opinion.

Interestingly, there hasn't been much change in the past month, people who oppose the bill already didn't like Walker, while people who support the bill already liked him.

[Brittain33]

We Ask America is sponsored by the Illinois Association of Manufacturers (?) which is not a pro-union body.

[Smash255]

Daniels is the only one that could be remotely competitive, and it wouldn't be enough   No one else would have a chance to even get close

[This user has not been convicted of 34 felonies]

WI turned red in 2010, so I don't doubt 2012.

[pbrower2a]

WI turned red in 2010, so I don't doubt 2012.

You have every reason to question whether 2010 was a freakish situation. The GOP and its front groups vilified anyone not a Hard Right politician and promised unprecedented prosperity. Now the Hard Right has to show itself for what it is -- and in Wisconsin, it isn't pretty. President Obama needs only differentiate himself from the Hard Right, and he wins Wisconsin in 2012  by a bigger margin than in 2008.

Scott Walker has become poison in Wisconsin politics in less than two months.