Obama handily defeats McCain in Rock County
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Election Day
Election Day was Tuesday. Area voters cast their ballots and react to the results.
Barack Obama defeated John McCain in Wisconsin on Tuesday, a state that has not gone Republican in 24 years but that Democrats barely won in the past two presidential elections.
Riding a wave of support that drove voter turnout to historic levels, Obama captured 10 electoral votes with the win on his way to winning the presidency. In Rock County, Obama grabbed nearly 64 percent of the vote with 50,515 ballots cast in his favor.
McCain, who received 27,356 votes in Rock County, was hoping for an upset in Wisconsin and had mobilized thousands of volunteers as part of a final push in the last three days to reverse October polls that showed him down by double digits.
But it wasn't to be.
Obama had a massive and well-organized legion of supporters who had helped register a record number of new voters, more than 175,000. Voter turnout was reported as being strong across the state and was predicted to be an all-time high.
Obama won the majority of Wisconsin voters who said the economy was their top concern, as well as three-in-five women, the majority of men, young voters and both black and white voters, according to the AP exit poll.
Gov. Jim Doyle, who threw his support behind Obama after he won the Iowa caucus, attributed the win to people being tired of Republicans and Obama's skill as a campaigner.
"Obama is a fantastic candidate and I think people in this state really connected to him," Doyle said.
Doyle, who may be in line for an appointment in an Obama administration, reiterated Tuesday that he's not lobbying for such a position and he doesn't expect to be offered one.
Wisconsin voters were enthused about Obama and ready for a change.
"I've had enough of the Republicans," said voter Bill Grenier, 75, of Sun Prairie. "The economy, lies about Iraq, health care problems - everything is out of whack. We need a new administration."
Ed Malcheski, 88, of Madison said he's a lifelong Democrat whose first vote was cast absentee for Franklin Roosevelt while serving overseas in World War II. Malcheski said he never thought he'd be voting for an African American for president.
"I'm pleased, but I was totally shocked," he said. "I didn't think I'd see that in my lifetime, no way."
A steady stream of students voted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison student union. The university had one of the most active Students for Barack Obama groups in the country, and Obama's team was hoping to win big on campus.
"It's a historic election. We've never had an African-American who ran for president get this far," said freshman Lamel Adkins, 19. He said he was proud his first vote in presidential election was for Obama.
State Republican Party chairman Reince Priebus said party volunteers and workers did all they could for McCain, knocking on more doors and making more calls than in any previous election.
"You've got a national mood right now that's certainly anti-incumbent and anti-George Bush right now that makes it very difficult," he said. "We did the best we could."
McCain supporter, Brian Dandoy, 34, of Milwaukee, said McCain would be better for the economy than Obama.
"I don't think this 'change, change, change' that Obama keeps preaching, it's not going to happen the way he is saying," Dandoy said.
Both candidates campaigned hard in the state throughout the summer and early fall, making more than a dozen personal appearances from Milwaukee to La Crosse and Eau Claire to Green Bay. But in the final month, when poll after poll showed Obama with a commanding lead, they both moved on to more competitive states.
Then McCain's money started drying up in Wisconsin.
By the end, the Arizona senator barely had enough cash to keep advertising on Wisconsin television, while Obama ran five ads for every one of McCain's. Prominent Republicans, including former Gov. Tommy Thompson, publicly questioned McCain's campaign strategy.
Obama attracted widespread enthusiasm unlike anything in modern Wisconsin political history. He beat Hillary Rodham Clinton in the February Democratic primary by 17 points and his popularity never seemed to wane.
McCain's supporters were slower to organize but said their final get-out-the-vote push was the strongest in the party's history. They emphasized McCain's track record of bucking the Republican Party, vitally important in a state where only about 2-in-10 people approve of the job done by President Bush.
Tougher for McCain to overcome was the souring economy, with polls showing most voters thought Obama was stronger on the issue.
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AP Writers Ryan J. Foley in Madison, Todd Richmond in Sun Prairie and Carrie Antlfinger in Milwaukee contributed to this report.
Nov 6, 2008 at 7:11 a.m.
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chemical_6: One of the best posts I've read on this site. You've expressed the feelings of many. Great job.
And, yes, McCain gave a great concession speech. I would have hated to have had to run a campaign against that John McCain - a sincere man rather than an RNC autobot.
Still, in the end, I think Obama was a better candidate and will do great things for more people in this country. If we can all get on a little more equal footing, we can all thrive rather than just a few.
Nov 6, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.
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Enough, That Democratic controlled congress is exactly who you can thank for allowing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac plunge the economy in the toilet, so be careful what you wish for. As far as Ryan supposedly being such an idiot, what exactly has your Democrat Governor done to improve this state? Unless you consider raising every fee in the state, raiding the transportation budget and getting on bended knee for any special interest group that will drop a bag of money in his lap. And oh yeah, your Gov sure did a great job saving all those GM jobs didn't he. Yep, Paul Ryan's the problem.....
Nov 5, 2008 at 10:06 p.m.
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The Republicans finaly got a good butt wippen.
Nov 5, 2008 at 5:07 p.m.
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I would like to have seen Ryan go. I think he's unbeatable. We'll probably see him make a bid for Governor soon.
Nov 5, 2008 at 4:09 p.m.
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Thank God, we have finally elected a man with integrity and brains. Obama!!!! To bad the First Dist reelected the disastrous Ryan. Ryan the dummy who wants to Privatize Social Security and Medicare, Ryan who believes in Water-boarding, Ryan who voted no to extend Workmen unemployment, Ryan who voted no to the GI Bill. Two more years of Ryan is almost unbearable. Hopefully the Dem controlled Congress will push this bum to the corner. Ryan a waste of tax payer money.
Nov 5, 2008 at 4:09 p.m.
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I wrote this in another Blog, but I feel it applies on this blog as well…
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From reading some of the posts on this website, I am embarrassed to think that some of you are my neighbors. I personally feel that Americans should not so much worry about WHO is their president, but what will be done ever the next four years and beyond. It’s not just Barack Obama that is going to be leading this country. There are plenty of others that have a hand in this as well. What happened to the “United” states of America? When you believe in something, don’t you personally want a chance to make that belief a reality? When you make a mistake, don’t you personally want a second chance? When you wake up in the morning, don’t you want to feel secure in your job, family, security and welfare? I know I want all of those things. It is the American Dream to make the most of your life. Who are we to say that Obama can’t handle the job of President? Or for that fact that McCain could? As Americans we should be proud that we are still in a country that its’ Government is chose by its’ people. We should be proud that there are people that are willing to risk their livelihood and lives for the better of this country and we should be respectful to all human beings that are willing to show us the same respect. We are such a strong country but I am afraid that peoples’ thoughts of humankind have changed so much that sometimes I think there is no going back….
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I hope that Obama can start the wheels moving in the correction of our economy woes and get America back on track to success. Even if you don’t believe in everything Obama has promised to do, have faith that you live in the United States of America… the land of the FREE and the home of the BRAVE…..
Nov 5, 2008 at 3:57 p.m.
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I see a silver lining to Obama being elected --HOPEfully he'll offer Doyle a position and we'll be rid of him!!
Nov 5, 2008 at 3:05 p.m.
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6824, a few jobs in Janesville are not worth putting our soldiers in harms way in an unjust war in Iraq. Spending $12B/month for an unjust war does the country absolutely no good. Unfortunately, it will be years before that spending will be reduced, both in terms of the war itself, and the increased veterans benefits that aren't even funded to the levels they should be right now.
Nov 5, 2008 at 1:54 p.m.
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Zoom- "The iceberg was Iraq" aren’t there a lot of jobs locally that depend on the defense budget?
Nov 5, 2008 at 1:14 p.m.
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Jimmy Carter did not inheret 21% interest rates, 12% unemployment, and a battered USA with hostages from Ford. Those are what Reagan got from Carter. Look up your facts. Jimmy Carter will go down in history (as President) as one of the worst in the 20th century.
Nov 5, 2008 at 12:55 p.m.
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Ya Bill Clinton was great with the ecomony! Whatever!
Nov 5, 2008 at 12:52 p.m.
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usaret That is exactly what we have now, high umemployment and high inflation plus a broken banking system. Can it get any worse?
Nov 5, 2008 at 12:46 p.m.
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The economy fares better under Democratic presidents than under Republican presidents. It's a proven fact.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1021/p09s0...
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Inflation and unemployment were already high when Carter took office. It was Ford who introduced the "WIN: Whip Inflation Now" slogan.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/06L750C0QO5...
Nov 5, 2008 at 12:20 p.m.
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Four more years of Jimmy Carter. Wow, can't wait. High inflation, high unemployment. Really something to look forward to. I will support the president but can only hope that the words he spoke will keep this country a democracy and not a socialist country. If he can't, we are in deep trouble. Now that Obama is President, how long do you think it will be before the media starts to go negative on him as they look for their next choice for president?
Nov 5, 2008 at 11:17 a.m.
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Remember that most people vote with their hearts, and not their minds. I hope their hearts are right. Also, the young vote really helped Obama. The last time those kind of numbers were seen at the polls by young people, they voted in a lame duck named Jimmy Carter. I hope history doesn't repeat itself, because the young people were wrong then.
Nov 5, 2008 at 10:50 a.m.
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Obama beat McCain by a 2-1 margin in Rock County. Wow.
The idea that the country was doing just fine until the second Democrats took control of the Congress two years ago is silly. There were no policy changes that suddenly started this downturn. The economy was the Titanic, and the iceberg was the Iraq war and massive deregulation.
John McCain made a great concession speech last night. The fact is, we all have to work to make things better. I think President-elect Obama gives us the best chance to end this bipartisan bickering. I hope this finally puts a nail in the coffin of Karl Rove style politics. McCain showed conviction and b***s by not dragging out the Wright issue at the end of the campaign (though another did it for him). The Obama campaign has shown the way, by organizing at the grass roots level, unseen in decades. I hope this is a turning point in our history, but it will only happen if regular Americans become engaged again. We can hope.
Nov 5, 2008 at 9:25 a.m.
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The people will get what the people wanted. There will be change. I just hope that people are ready for the changes to come. The most impressive thing last night was McCain's speech. Very eloquent and it made me proud to be an American.
Nov 5, 2008 at 8:53 a.m.
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He ran a better campaign than McCain. He energized his base something McCain really couldn't do. It is history and we shall see how this guy governs now will it be to the far left like his record indicates or will he be more moderate like he campaigned on. I'm pretty sure the people that voted for him have no idea where he will govern from. That was one thing George Bush did and did it well. We always knew where he stood on issues. Be it you agreed with him or not you knew where he stood. Time will tell with Obama. I just hope we won't have buyers remorse in a few years. I still can't believe that the democrats gained seats in the house. This is a democratic controlled senate that had a 13% approval rating. Never ceases to amaze me.
Nov 5, 2008 at 7:57 a.m.
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I'll just be curious to see how many of these first time voters that jumped on the wagon actually continue to stay involved and vote in the future. Don't get me wrong, anytime we can get new voters, it's a good thing. Whether they stay is another thing. Kind of reminds me of 911. All the patriot people that came out of the woodwork once disaster struck, but before that where we're they?
Nov 5, 2008 at 7:48 a.m.
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Hopefully these 4 years go by fast!! It will be great when all you Democrats are complaining in two years that this "Change" hasn't occured like everyone thought! Or the "Change" turned this county into Socialists-Spread the Wealth.
Nov 5, 2008 at 7:18 a.m.
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Not much of a choice either way but we as Americans should and need to support our president. Time for change is the priority and God know we need it.
Nov 5, 2008 at 6:52 a.m.
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God Bless America and God Bless President Elect Obama.
Nov 5, 2008 at 6:47 a.m.
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WTF? Doyle said that Americans are tired of Republicans? We have only a Republican President who is a puppet of both Democratically controlled houses. It is funny that the nation started to fall apart two years ago, when the Democrats gained control. American asked for it, now we got it. I didn't vote for Obama, but I still have to honor the position.
Nov 5, 2008 at 5:47 a.m.
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Well, now the Maverick can be put out to pasture...
The old gray mare, he ain't what he used to be....
Nov 5, 2008 at 3:26 a.m.
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"I Think I Can, I think I can.....I think I can...." Choo Chooo! Sorry, just giddy about the whole thing...not.
Nov 5, 2008 at 3:24 a.m.
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I'm sure the secret service can handle whatever losers are out there. Let's focus on the good stuff, shall we? We just watched history tonight, and I for one cannot wait to support Obama for the next 4-8 years to work towards improving this great country. YES WE CAN!!
Nov 5, 2008 at 3:03 a.m.
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I voted for McCain, but must support Obama now. The people have spoken and us Wisconsonites have lots of problems to face. I am glad its over, now we can get down to business. p.s. the secret service people will be under tremendous pressure. just a thought.
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