Barack Obama brings his presidential campaign back to Wisconsin today. The Democratic presidential candidate will attend a rally this morning in downtown La Crosse. The city has a Republican mayor, is represented by a Democrat in the state Assembly and a Republican in the state Senate, and by Democrat Ron Kind in the U.S. House of Representatives. No wonder La Crosse County Democratic chair, Fabio Burgos, is taking nothing for granted. “There's no reason for complacency,” says Burgos. “There never has been.”
Indeed, Tom Lynch, who chairs the Republican Party of La Crosse County, thinks the county and southwestern Wisconsin are in play for November. “Definitely. It's generally a conservative community,” says Lynch, who believes “traditional voters will be voting conservative, and with the Republicans, especially this time.” Lynch, who expects John McCain will also make a campaign stop in southwestern Wisconsin, cites energy independence and national security as top concerns for La Crosse County Republicans. The Democrat's Burgos hopes to hear Obama address concerns about the economy and health care during today's rally.