View from a Heartland Swing State

The typical Wisconsin voter isn't some rabid right-wing lugnut or a babykilling liberal.

The state is filled with working class people whose ancestors came from Germany, or Poland, or Ireland, who mostly go to church on Sunday, probably Lutheran or Catholic, because their ancestors did, but still have beer and wine at their church potlucks. They like polka masses and county fairs, cheese curds and elephant ears. They mostly take the "love your neighbor" stuff out of church and take the rest with a grain of salt. Their world grinds to a halt when the Packers are playing, and they've worshipped for years at the altar of Brett Favre, but will still be diehard cheeseheads regardless. They'll brave winter's cold in Lambeau Field just to cheer on the Pack to victory, and they remember the days of Vince Lombardi. They go to fish fries on Friday night, love to tailgate, fish walleye and bass in the northern lakes, go waterskiing, and participate in the local office pool. They have their favorite neighborhood bar where they know everyone, greet people by name in the grocery store, and love garage sales. They know what it's like to work hard, whether it's to save the family farm, or at the papermill or factory. They know that dairy and lumber are their lifeblood. They like seeing the leaves turn gold and crimson in autumn and the tulips and daffodils peeking out in the spring. They love their beers. And brats. And fishboils. They want brandy in front of a fire in the wintertime, and still go into dark restaurants to order chablis by the carafe. They like progressive ideas, but want someone to talk straight to them.

In Madison, you'll find the university crowd, people who shop mostly in the health food stores, have art fairs, and very active GLBT communities, coffeehouses, and lots of live-and-let-live. Milwaukee has the tough urban landscape like a far northern suburb of Chicago, poverty next to old money on the lake, beer manufacturing as a lifeblood, plenty of German food and European heritage.

This is a state that has no problem electing a popular Republican governor alongside two extremely progressive Democratic senators, and would take equal pride in having Tommy Thompson on a national ticket as it would Russ Feingold.

That's why Wisconsin is in play.