Race Getting Closer in Wisconsin!

As we near 50 days until the election, the race in Wisconsin still appears too close to call. Current polling indicates that the two candidates are neck in neck. According to Pollster.com, Obama leads with 48.1% over McCain’s 40.4%. However, another survey given on September 5-7 by Strategic Vision (a Public Relations Group), called it even closer. They asked 800 likely voters in Wisconsin if the election for president were held today, would you support the Democratic ticket or the Republican ticket. 46% said they would support Obama while 43% said they would support the McCain. With the +/-3 margin of error, the two could be in a dead heat. Also, McCain seems to be leading in two of the major issues of this election. When asked which candidate would better handle the economy, 48 percent said McCain while 41 percent said Obama. When asked which candidate would best handle the war in Iraq, 45 percent said McCain while 43 percent said Obama. Also interesting is that the people of Wisconsin seem to love Sarah Palin. She has a 55% approval rating, while Joe Biden has a 43% approval rating.
Past elections don’t make it any easer it predict. While the past four elections have all gone democrat, they have done it by a small margin and have been highly contested. The past two have been especially close. The results are as follows:


2004: Kerry: 50%
Bush: 49%

2000: Gore: 49%
Bush 48%

1996: Clinton: 49%
Dole: 39%

1992: Clinton: 41%
Bush: 37%

Two key issues for voters in Wisconsin are the economy and trade. According to the Associated Press, seven in ten voters said international trade has resulted in lost jobs in Wisconsin. Fewer than one in five said trade has created more jobs than it has lost.

Here is an overview of the economy, according to National Journal:

Industry:
Agriculture: 2.8%; Construction: 5.9%; Finance: 6.1%; Information: 2.2%; Manufacturing: 26.7%; Professional: 26.6%; Public Administration: 3.5%; Trade: 14.8%; Other: 11.3%
Work Force:
Work Sector:
Private:81.1%; Govt:12.5%; Self:6.1%; Family:0.3%; Unemployment:4.7%
Median Household Income: $43,791
8.7% are below the poverty line
13.0% less than $15,000
25.9% $15-35,000
18.1% $35-50,000
33.6% $50-100,000
6.4% $100-150,000
3.0% more than $150,000
Median Home Value: $109,900
10.0% less than $50,000
33.8% $50-100,000
43.6% $100-200,000
8.7% $200-300,000
3.0% $300-500,000
1.0% more than $500,000

Wisconsin currently has a Democratic governor, Jim Doyle, and a Republican-controlled state Assembly. Both of their senators, Russell D. Feingold and Herb Kohl, are democrats.

As of right now, the race is too close to call. The democrats have a slight lead, but a lot can happen in 50 days. It will be interesting to see what happens!

Wisconsin has 10 electoral votes.