Unlike four years ago, Wisconsin will not be in the national spotlight in the final eight days before the presidential election. Neither Democrat Barack Obama nor Republican John McCain has any plans to visit the Badger State even though both made frequent appearances into early October. Since then, Obama built up a double-digit lead in a string of independent polls. That has both candidates focusing on states where the race still appears to be close.
In 2004, President Bush and Democrat John Kerry both went all-out in Wisconsin in the final campaign week. Bush went to the La Crosse and Green Bay areas, along with Richland Center and Cuba City. Kerry had Bruce Springsteen appear with him in Madison, when 80,000 people turned out.