Impressive county swings

[ill ind]

xfactor

  Take a look at some of those rural Wisconsin Counties.

Richland County 24% more Democratic.
Waupaca County 22% more Democratic
Outagamie County 22% more Democratic
Waushara County 20% more Democratic

I'm originally from Waupaca County and am in total shock at how McCain was absolutely obliterated in the traditionally GOP rural Wisconsin counties.  After all Northern Wisconsin was one of the mentioned 'pro-America areas of America'.  I have no explanation for the shift.  Will see family from there this weekend and will definitely try to get an idea of what went on.

Ill-Ind

[ill ind]

Beef

you stated:

These are socially conservative Lutherans, Catholics, and Evangelicals.  Though they have very strong "pro-family" and "pro-life" views, they are really very progressive and open-minded when it comes to non-wedge issues.  There isn't a racist to be found among them, though interracial marriage does make some of the older folks uncomfortable. 

I do believe that you are onto something here.  In rural Wisconsin traditional churches such as Lutherans and Catholics still reign supreme.  The mega-church, Mc-church or whatever you want to call it hasn't caught on.  In fact, I'd be willing to venture that there is an undercurrent of backlash from many people in these areas against the whole 'Christian Conservative/Christian Coalition' movement.  While indeed there are strong 'pro-family' and 'pro-life' values, people tend to be more Libertarian leaning in that your religion is your business and they do not like being told what they should and should not believe.  Wedge issues tend to sell alot less here than in many other parts of the country.



Richland might also be an outgrowth of the "Madison tentacles" I see extending into the southwest part of the state.

  You are probably right on this.  Exurban Madison voted very Democratic, while exurban Milwaukee appears to have been the only GOP stronghold in the state--although all of exurban Milwaukee trended Democratic as well.

Ill_Ind

[ill ind]

Beef

  I haven't lived in Clintonville in 20 years.  My parents and other family members do however.  They still go to the same Lutheran church that my mothers great grandfather helped found back in the 1880's.  (It does have diminishing/older membership by the way) Some of the New London family members are Methodist, the others I do not know where they go.  Perhaps it is because my contact is with my family members that I feel the way I do.  I'll definitely ask this weekend and try to get some sort of a feel as to what went on.
  I've never detected outright animosity towards GWB however--unhappiness, but not animosity.  GWB carried Waupaca County by 19 points last time, so 1 out of 5 Bush voters turned around and voted Democratic this year.  Also, Clintonville appears to be losing population again after a gain in 2000.  The town is in many ways a retirement locale for local farmers.  I imagine that New London and Waupaca play that same role to some extent although both are more vibrant than Clintonville is.  New London and Waupaca are easier commutes to the Valley for workers too.   
  I do not know if people go to the Fox Valley Mall as much anymore.  Both New London and Waupaca have Walmarts, so people probably stay more local.  However it is a far cry from my childhood when going to Appleton was a major trip.

Washington, Ozaukee, and Waukesha Counties all swung Democratic this year compared to 2004.  Bad terminology on my part.  Trend is not the word I should have used.

Ill-Ind

[ill ind]

Beef

Here is some interesting data to chew on:

In Waupaca County

15,064 votes or 59.08% were cast in the 22 rural townships.  That vote broke down 51.05% for McCain and 47.67% for Obama.  Obama carried 7 townships--5 in the northwest corner of the county and the 2 that surround New London.

1559 votes or 6.11% of the votes cast came from the 6 villages in the county.  49.78% went for Obama and 48.94% went for McCain.  Big Falls, Iola, Ogdensburg, and Scandanavia all went for Obama and are all in the northwest portion of the county in the 5 townships he carried there.  The other two, Fremont and Embarrass both went for McCain.

8876 votes or 34.81% came from the 6 cities in the County.  56.31% went to Obama and 42.46% went to McCain.  In the northeastern portion of the county, Marion went for McCain and Manawa was a tie.  Clintonville (3rd largest city--7.7% of the county vote) broke for Obama 54.25% to 44.64%  In the southeast, the city of Weyewega went for Obama 56.31% to 43.09%.  In the southwest is the City of Waupaca (largest city--surpassing New London by 1 vote--and is 10.79% of the county vote) went for Obama 57.18% to 41.85%.

Then there is New London--again 10.79% of the vote--it went for Obama 60.35% to 38.17%

In summary, the whole northwestern portion of the county broke for Obama
The northeastern portion voted for McCain except for Clintonville
The southwestern portion broke for McCain except for Waupaca
The southeastern portion broke for McCain except for Weyewega
The east Central portion of the county (New London and the two townships surrounding it) broke very heavily for Obama.

Let me know if this strikes up anything

Ill-Ind