Yes, it is a state issue. And yes, the Democrats may lose.
But David Axelrod and David Plouffe must stop calculating every fine point and go with their guts. That is how people vote, and that is where the president must connect.
Wisconsin has been ground zero for the fight for the 99%. The president's place is with them. Win or lose.
If the Democrats lose, and their president has not been there, the 99% will get the message that their president is more concerned with his own standing than he is with them.
Sure, the president's policies are middle-class-oriented, and Romney's are geared for the 1%, and they will make that point over and over and over.
But if a picture is worth a thousand words, action is worth a million.
Going to Wisconsin and spending some good time across the state, with Vice President Biden making stops as well, will make everyone feel that he is on their side and will fight for them.
If they lose, the president will emerge exhorting people to work harder between now and the election to defeat the forces of reaction fueled and funded by the Kochs and their fellow travelers.
If they win, it will be an object lesson that a ground game can defeat those forces.
The president should go to Madison and Milwaukee and remind people that Walker rejected funds for high-speed rail between the cities, money that would have put their people to work, and left them with high-speed rail that would be have benefited them for generations. [And, if any of that money remains, perhaps the Democratic candidate, Tom Barrett, can announce he will accept the funds, and begin the job that should have started two years ago].
When the middle class is being attacked, and fighting back, the president must be with them.
When he does that, regardless of the outcome, he cannot lose.
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Uhh... he is. Does this come as some sort of shock to you folks? He doesn't have to worry about the OWS vote. They're gonna vote for him regardless.
Until then, roll out the red carpet to Obama.
It may just be that Democratic politics have moved so faraway from the center that everything is just a degree of overreach targeted by political master thinkers to appeal to some niche's baser selfish adgenda.
I do think that your main point that Obama needs to campaign from the heart is correct, but I think he's past the point where he can.
Some say (to borrow a Fox News frame) that the upper echelons of the national party have determined that a walker victory in the recall will animate more voters nationwide to come out in November and re-elect the president.
all I can say Mr. Obama is upchuck your calculated political expediency and get your butt over to WI or else face the wrath of many who will be angered come November.