Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Andrea Pendergast The Eau Claire County Democratic Party Resource Center, 404 South Barstow St., opened its doors to the Obama campaign last week, Clinton campaign expected soon.

Wisconsin sits just over a week away from what some are calling the tightest presidential election race the state has ever seen.

The results of the primaries and caucuses held last Tuesday might have resulted in a more definitive leader when it comes to the Republican presidential nominee in Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) but on the Democratic side, the candidates are neck-and-neck. The closeness of the race has some local politicians saying Wisconsin could be a hotbed of political activity leading up to the state's Feb. 19 primary.

"For one week, the entire political world will be focused on Wisconsin," Gov. Jim Doyle (D) said during his visit to Eau Claire Thursday. "We will be a state that determines elections."



The Chippewa Valley
Doyle spent Thursday afternoon in an auditorium at the Chippewa Valley Technical College to show his support for presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). Doyle officially announced his backing of Obama after the Iowa Caucuses Jan. 3.

Doyle told the crowd he received a phone call from Obama Jan. 4, during which time the governor told the senator he was "behind him all the way," telling the crowd that he initially pledged to not get involved in the race until he heard Obama's victory speech in Iowa.

Doyle and the Obama campaign held Thursday's event in order to rally support for the Obama campaign in the Eau Claire area, which was noticeable among the more than 100 attendees cheering during Doyle's short speech.

"Now, it is going to be incredibly important that all in Wisconsin give every ounce we can," Doyle said. "We need to deliver Wisconsin to Barack Obama."

Following Doyle's pep-talk, a representative from the Obama campaign spoke to attendees and informed them of how to go about campaigning for Obama in the weeks to come, telling them the campaign will need the most support in the days immediately before the election.

Eau Claire County Democrat Chairwoman Katy Phillips said that while no candidate has officially made plans to stop in Eau Claire, the campaigns of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y) and Obama have rooms reserved at the Democratic Headquarters, 404 S. Barstow St. She said Obama had a representative at the headquarters since Wednesday setting up phone banks and computers, preparing for campaigning in the area. Phillips said Clinton's campaign was not currently in Eau Claire but told her they would be contacting her today in order to organize plans.

Junior Jake Johnson, treasurer for UW-Eau Claire's chapter of the College Democrats, was at the Doyle event and said the organization is doing its part to make the candidates visible and get students ready for the Feb. 19 vote.

"The College Dems don't support one candidate over the other," he said. "We are really focused on just getting out the vote on Tuesday."

Though the area has yet to see a candidate, Doyle said it will happen.

"Barack will be in the state a lot that week," he said.

Doyle also made note of the importance of students in this presidential race.

"(Students) are incredibly important to (Obama's) campaign," he said. "He has spent a lot of time on university campuses and he'll spend some time on Wisconsin's campuses," adding that he really wants Obama to come to Eau Claire when he visits the state.



The rest of Wisconsin
Another local politician has also recently announced his support for Obama. U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wis., who represents the 7th District of Wisconsin, including the Northern part of the Chippewa Valley, announced late last week that he is also supporting Obama. Initially, Obey supported former presidential candidate John Edwards until Edwards dropped out of the presidential race Jan. 30.

Currently, both Obama and Clinton have scheduled campaign visits to Southern portions of the state late this week.

According to the Wisconsin Democratic Party, Clinton has confirmed she will be attending the party's Founders Day Gala on Saturday. Obama has not confirmed he will be in attendance. The event is in Milwaukee at the Midwest Airlines Center and will cost attendees $100 a ticket if reservations are made in advance and $125 a ticket if purchased at the door.

Obama's campaign will be making an official stop at the Kohl Center in Madison tomorrow night as a part of his Stand for Change campaign. The event at the Kohl Center is free to attend with doors opening at 6:15 p.m.

"We need change so badly in this country," Doyle said, "and that opportunity for change is here before us."

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