Note: Wisconsin had a candidate in the 2008 presidential campaign for about eight months, but he was not the one many people expected.  Sen. Russ Feingold (D), seen as a likely 2008 presidential candidate in 2005-06, ruled out a White House run on Nov. 12, 2006. >  Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) established a presidential exploratory committee on Dec. 13, 2006 but withdrew from the race on Aug. 12, 2007. >.
 

General Election -- Tuesday, November 2, 2004

-Wisconsin has Election Day registration at polling place with verification of residence (since 1976).
-No early voting; people can request an absentee ballot from their municipal clerk without providing an explanation.  Municipal clerks can start sending out absentee ballots to people who have requested them 30 days before the election.  There are 1,850 municipal clerks.

+Kerry/Edwards (Dem.) 1,489,504 (49.70) Bush/Cheney (Rep.) 1,478,120 (49.32) Badnarik/Campagna (Lib.) 6,464 (0.22) Cobb/LaMarche (Grn.) 2,661 (0.09) Nader/Camejo (Ind.) 16,390 (0.55) Harris/Trowe (SWP) 411 (0.01) Brown/Hebert (Soc.) 471 (0.02) Scatter 2,986 (0.1) Total........2,997,007   Total voters: 3,003,083.

2004 Overview As in 2000 the race in Wisconsin was tightly fought to the end and as in 2000 the Democratic ticket narrowly prevailed.  Kerry-Edwards secured a plurality of 11,384 votes (0.38 percentage points).  Bush carried 45 counties to 27 for Kerry.  Wisconsin received numerous visits from the candidates and their wives, and intense advertising (Milwaukee Mix: The Ad Campaign). General Election Details  |  Photos Kerry/Allies  |  Bush-Cheney '04

[State Primary Election: September 14, 2004]

Past Results

1996 Clinton (Dem.).....1,071,971 (48.81) Dole (Rep.)............845,029  (38.48) Perot (Ref.)............227,339  (10.35) Nader (Ind.).............28,723 (1.31) Others (6+scat).......23,107 (1.05) Total........2,196,169 1992 Clinton (Dem.)....1,041,066 (41.13) Bush (Rep.)..........930,855 (36.78) Perot (Ind.)............544,479  (21.51) Others (11+scat).....14,714 (0.58) Total........2,531,114	2000 Bush/Cheney (Rep.)  1,237,279 (47.61) +Gore/Lieberman (Dem.)  1,242,987 (47.83) Browne/Olivier (Lib.)  6,640 (0.26) Phillips/Frazier (Const.)  2,042 (0.07) Nader/LaDuke (Grn.)  94,070 (3.62) Moorehead/LaRiva(WWP)  1,063 (0.04) Harris/Trowe (SWP) 306  -  Hagelin/Goldhaber (Ref.) 878 (0.03) Buchanan-Foster (Ref.) 11,446 (0.44) Scattering 1,896 (0.07) Total........2,598,607	2000 Overview Both major campaigns poured significant resources into the battleground state of Wisconsin.  Ralph Nader's appeal in this state gave the Bush forces grounds for optimism, but on Election Day the Gore-Lieberman ticket eked out a narrow win, gaining a plurality of 5,708 votes (0.22 percentage points) over Bush-Cheney.  Bush carried 46 counties to Gore's 26.  By comparison, in 1996, when Dole did not actively compete in the state, the Dole-Kemp ticket carried just 11 counties, while Clinton-Gore won in 61.  Four-term Gov. Tommy Thompson was an ardent Bush supporter, and his organization provided a foundation for Bush's strong showing as the state's electors nearly went into the Republican column for the first time since 1984. General Election Activity  |  Photos

Republican - Presidential Preference Primary: Tuesday, February 17, 2004. 40 Delegates and 37 Alternates.
 

2004 page >
2000 page >
 

Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.