I agree. Every time I see msm stating that Wisconsin is still up for grabs it floors me. I just don't see it or hear it. This is definitely Obama Country!!

One thing I left out of my blog about seeing Michelle Obama speak with my daughter today was that she said we need you to work, and work some more, and pray, and work harder, and then pray some more, and after that get to work.

I think that the Obama camp knows that it will take not just a win, but a win with an unquestionable margin of error to win this in spite of any voter supression/fraud etc., cheating, whatever we may encounter. There is no room to be complacent or slow down.

And I expect that the McCain camp is going to get nastier as the election gets closer... it will keep inventing things to distract or overwhelm.

I think if we want this bad enough we will win and I appreciate that your out there doing your part.

Two weekends ago I was very encouraged to see the amount of Obama signs in rural Wisconsin. I didn't see one McCain sign. I did see my first McCain bumper sticker though. I couldn't begin to count the Obama stickers.

The amount of Obama signs in rural NW Wisconsin are similar to the amount of Bush/Cheney signs I saw in 2004. A change in the tide.

Anyone who will vote for McCain isn't very excited about it, definetly not proud, and are potentially, embarrassed to admit it IMHO. At least when it comes to NW Wisconsin.

Well, I guess there was that one guy with the McCain bumper sticker.

I'm starting to count more Obama signs, badges, hats and stickers too.

Yesterday, saw this long haired, hot guy coming out of the library with Obama sticker on his jacket lapel. Seeing the stickers and buttons everywhere.

It was always Obama's election to lose, because it started out as "anything but a Republican." I think those who are big Obama fans have a hard time concieving of someone who won't fall in lvoe with him. Well, lots of independents and swings are not like you, they won't fall in love with him. I think the key is not expecting them to love Obama, you gotta let go of that, not everyone is going to be crazy about him, but just selling it as a Dem vs. the party of Bush, and most importantly--not letting McCain get away with looking moderate, Independent or Democratic. I think the best bet with independents, swings and undecideds is making clear to them that McCain is not like them, that the "maverick" label comes from just a very few initiatives, and that he is most of all, a loyal Republican, rather than trying to convince them that Obama is like them. You shouldn't expect them to get all hepped up over "yes we can!" They're "independent," after all. :-)

Some specific suggestions: if they are religious social conservative, and think he is inauthentic on that point, point to his 2006 speech to the Call to Renewal conference:
http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060628-call_to_renewal/
and contrast McCain's pretty secular background.
If they are unsure because they think he is a flaming liberal using moderate sheep's clothing to get the presidency, use his admonishment to the DKos crowd from 2005:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/30/102745/165
or select similar points from "Audacity of Hope."

P.S. I have lots of relatives in Wisconsin and was born there and lived there until age 29 and traveled all over the state for my work--I understand. Good to hear they seem to be coming around to the usual common sense.

I live in Spring Green, WI, 35 miles west of Madison. Our town is filled with Obama yard signs (including people I've never seen have a yard sign before). I've seen (maybe) two McCain signs here.

Hi all,

Thanks for the comments and the recs. Went out canvassing again this evening and ran into quite a few people who were still undecided.

I can't tell you how much this personal contact seems to mean to people. At one point I remember talking to an older woman who said, "I just worry about the future..." and I put my hand on my heart and looked her in the eye and said something like, "I'm a mother. I have two little kids, and I want the best future for them. And I really truly believe Barack Obama's heart is in the right place and he has the best ideas to get us out of this mess."

She looked at me, just stood there looking at me. And then she said, "Yes, I'm beginning to think you're right..."

One more leaning toward Obama :-) If all of us have just one interaction like this every day between now and the election it *will* make a difference.

Get out and canvass!

@jk2003, I know it seems crazy but there are lots of undecided voters here!

I've found that about half of them are undecided because the presidential race just isn't important to them and they are totally uninformed.

The other half -- and maybe it's just a coincidence, but they seem to usually be older people -- seem to be pretty well-versed in the issues and the candidates' positions, but they can't seem to make up their minds as to which approach would work better. They're also trying to figure out which candidate is more trustworthy, more likely to actually follow through on campaign promises.

These people are really on the fence and I feel like we're making a huge difference going door-to-door. I don't know if McCain has any ground game going on here at all.