November 5, 2019

"The state generates cozy tropes — cheese, Friday fish fries and Old Fashioneds (with brandy, not whiskey), Wisconsin Nice, and, yes, tailgating at Lambeau Field."

"But, as with many places, stereotypes crumble on closer inspection. The state is rural and urban, dairy farmer and union, and almost equally split between Democrats and Republicans. It elected progressive Tammy Baldwin, the first senator to identify as gay, and avid Trumper Ron Johnson.... During the campaign, millions of dollars are projected to flood into Wisconsin from the parties, PACs, get-out-the-vote efforts, donors in deep-blue states, big money, dark money, $5 checks. 'No one is going to ignore Wisconsin,' [Democratic state chairman Ben] Wikler says. 'You have to come here to win the presidency. As goes Wisconsin, so goes the nation.'... Many local political operatives declare their region the key to victory. 'The battle for Wisconsin won’t be won simply in Madison and Milwaukee, Waukesha, Green Bay, Racine and Eau Claire,' says Baldwin, before listing most of the state’s eight congressional districts."

From "All eyes are on Wisconsin, the state that’s gearing up to define the presidential election" (WaPo).

Baldwin is probably right, but I'll bet that the Democratic nominee, once selected, will only appear in Madison and Milwaukee.

39 comments:

Big Mike said...

but I'll bet that the Democratic nominee, once selected, will only appear in Madison and Milwaukee.

That is a bet I will not take. (Picture me saying that in the accents of “Guys and Dolls.”)

henry said...

They cant go to places with that strange land pattern seen from airplanes. Cows might eat them.

Mike Sylwester said...

I'll bet that the Democratic nominee, once selected, will only appear in Madison and Milwaukee

... to give pep talks to the vote harvesters.

cubanbob said...

College students should only be allowed to vote where they are legally domiciled six months and a day. That would change a lot of the electoral landscape.

Operaman said...

Wisconsin has always been a study in contrasts. When I was born in Milwaukee, the state’s junior Senator was Republican Joe McCarthy but the Mayor was a Socialist.

tim in vermont said...

Why can’t Democrats and Republicans both enjoy the same cozy tropes? Why would that be sinister? Non fraternization rules for Democrats?

stevew said...

That sounds right to me - from my perch here in MA. The candidates can safely ignore Massachusetts, would be better off using that time in WI (and FL and PA). NH only matters because it is the first primary state.

P.S. A brandy Old Fashioned sounds disgusting.

Rabel said...

"As goes Wisconsin, so goes the nation."

If so, then God help us all.

clint said...

Old Fashioneds with Brandy??

That's horrifying.

gahrie said...

'No one is going to ignore Wisconsin,' [Democratic state chairman Ben] Wikler says.

This time.

walter said...

Oh yeah..back bench Baldwin. Tend to forget she's there.

traditionalguy said...

But how will the Dem candidate beat Trump. They would need a Recession, an assassination, an impeachment with Senate removal, or an assassination in the next 12 months. I suppose they will audition someone for 2024.

tcrosse said...

P.S. A brandy Old Fashioned sounds disgusting.

I never listened to one.

Caligula said...

"Baldwin is probably right, but I'll bet that the Democratic nominee, once selected, will only appear in Madison and Milwaukee."

If boosting turnout is more important than convincing undecideds or leaning-toward-one's-opponents (as seems likely), then appearing mostly in Madison and Milwaukee makes sense.

Although a bucolic photo of candidate-with-dairy-cow doesn't cost much and surely wouldn't hurt. So long as you don't get caught photoshopping it.

Kevin said...

'You have to come here to win the presidency. As goes Wisconsin, so goes the nation.'

Trump didn’t need it last time.

The beauty of the Electoral College is there are many ways to 270.

Or is he saying Democrats, as currently constructed, can’t win without it?

Michael K said...

Will a Democrat campaign anywhere outside a big city ?

Why ?

paminwi said...

Dems will head to the Eau Claire area. Lots of Dems in that area. Then it’s a quick trip to crazy Minneapolis.

Wince said...

Is it a trope to say Old Fashioneds are homophobic?

R C Belaire said...

1) Someone should have mentioned Wisconsin to Ms. Clinton a few years ago.

2) And remember, don't ignore the Marinette-Peshtigo metro area...

stevew said...

@tcrosse

Now that's funny. Me neither, and never been in the presence of one, nor will I.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

"No one is going to ignore Wisconsin,' [Democratic state chairman Ben] Wikler says. '

Since the Dem convention is going to be in Milwaukee, it will be rather difficult to ignore Wisconsin.

I predict much of the rest of Wisconsin is going to ignore the D's.

Merny11 said...

Our old fashioneds are delicious. Don’t forget that Wisconsinites are expert drinkers! Which might explain why we managed to vote for both Baldwin and Johnson .....

Merny11 said...

Our old fashioneds are delicious. Don’t forget that Wisconsinites are expert drinkers! Which might explain why we managed to vote for both Baldwin and Johnson .....

tcrosse said...

One man's trope is another man's meme.

traditionalguy said...

You must drink a lot in the long cold winters in Wisconsin.I learned at the brewery in Guerneville, CA. that Korbel Brandy is the best selling brandy in Wisconsin. Since then I have liked it, and one dau-in-law has given me the extra large bottle of Korbel Brandy every Christmas. It lasts us exactly a year, because the wife doesn't like brandy. It's 80 proof and delicious. But it is cheap compared to other famous brands.

The Korbel staff explained that a famous Champagne maker also makes a great brandy because Brandy is distilled wine.

traditionalguy said...

Let me add that the wife loves a Brandy Alexander like the ones her daddy used to make. It is just straight up that she doesn't like it.

rehajm said...

Jeffrey Morgenthaler on the Wisconsin Old Fashioned.

He adores Wisconsin drinking culture...

Jeff Brokaw said...

Glad to see so many people talking about the—obviously—most important information in this piece, the Brandy Old Fashioned.

Never had one, but I do like a regular Old Fashioned made with Rye. And I do like Brandy for wintertime sipping. And with the arrival of colder weather, I do need some Brandy in the house anyway...

gilbar said...

I'll bet the Nominee goes to Viroqua.
Dems like going to Safe Area's, and the posers in Viroqua are pretty much ALL democrat
(the County Democrat office is right across the street from the fly shop)
By going to Viroqua; they'll be able to pretend that they went to rural Wisconsin, and still be able to "farm to table" LOCAL CRANBERRY HARISSA, or ELK RUN HOMESTEAD ARUGULA TABOULEH )at the driftless cafe
Maybe They'll like; i sure didn't.

ps. The fly shop sux TOO

MadisonMan said...

A Dem candidate (Pres or VP) will go to a Lambeau in October.

MadisonMan said...

Long ago my wife was a cocktail waitress. She holds no regard for BOFS as she calls them. Maybe the non-sweet kind (BOF) is better. Never had one. I'd rather have a Negroni.

Rick.T. said...

Don't forget the supper clubs. Southern Comfort Old Fashioneds are a thing as well. My wife's aunt and uncle taught the grandkids very early how to make Nana and Papa one before dinner.

Dad29 said...

avid Trumper Ron Johnson

Huh? RoJo was NEVER "avid" about Trump until it became clear as crystal that the Democrats were shredding all elements of decency for the last few years.

RoJo was a lot closer to Ryan until about 6 months ago, and he's STILL no "America Firster" on such things as trade with Red China.

rcocean said...

If Wisconsin had seen more of Hillary - she might have lost by even more votes.

rcocean said...

I would assume just getting out enough votes in Milwaukee and its suburbs will win the D's the state.

Original Mike said...

Brandy Old Fashion. One of these days I'll get around to having one of these.

itzik basman said...

Not really relevant to where campaigning will go, I just want to say that I spent last weekend in Milwaukee, first time ever in Wisconsin, stayed in Riverwest neighbourhood and loved it, city and neighbourhood, it quickly became one of my favourite US cities. Hell, I’d be happy to campaign there even it wasn’t politically helpful.

The Vault Dweller said...

I've never heard of 'Wisconsin Nice.' I've heard of 'Minnesota Nice," but not Wisconsin. I'm assuming they mean roughly the same thing of being generally polite and trying to avoid most confrontation in social situations. Brandy definitely seems to be a bigger thing in Wisconsin that in most other states.

wildswan said...

"rcocean said...
If Wisconsin had seen more of Hillary - she might have lost by even more votes."

Exactly. Also the Dem convention is here but I hear everyone is staying down in Chicago. Yet we have a trolley, a circle to nowhere, just the thing for Dems.