Clinton rallies for Harris in tight Wisconsin vote battle

Wisconsin is a state located in the Great Lakes region in the north-central part of the USA. It is known for its landscapes, forests, and numerous lakes (including Lake Michigan and Lake Superior). The state capital is Madison, while the largest city is Milwaukee, which has a rich industrial history.

Wisconsin is also one of several so-called swing states—states that can swing either way. These are the places in the USA where support for the two main parties—the Democrats and the Republicans—is so close that the election outcome is unpredictable.

In the US electoral system, the electoral college system, the winner in a given state usually takes all the electoral votes from that state (except for Maine and Nebraska). Therefore, states with many electoral votes, such as Florida, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, can determine the outcome of a candidate's victory nationwide.

Main swing states (and the number of electoral votes):

1. Pennsylvania - 19 votes
2. Michigan - 15 votes
3. Arizona - 11 votes
4. Wisconsin - 10 votes
5. Georgia - 16 votes
6. Nevada - 6 votes
7. North Carolina - 16 votes

Wisconsin has 10 electoral votes, making the battle incredibly fierce. In 2020, it was decided by a margin of less than 1% of the votes. Current President Joe Biden won here against Trump by just 20,000 votes out of nearly 6 million residents in the state.

Polls in this state indicate a slight lead for Kamala Harris, though the difference is still within the margin of error. The best example of how intense the fight for Wisconsin is the plan of the two candidates for this Friday. Two rallies are taking place here simultaneously: Harris's and Trump's. This is an unprecedented situation in the current campaign.

- Kamala Harris is aiming for a strong win in the state's largest three counties, says Charles Benson, chief political reporter for local station TMJ4. - Of 72 counties in Wisconsin, about 60 are red - he adds. According to him, her tactic in Wisconsin is to crush Trump in Milwaukee and Dane, the two largest counties. Since she won't be able to win in the rest of the state, she must collect votes where there are the most residents.

On Thursday, we saw the Democrats' battle for votes. Former President Bill Clinton was seeking support from the African American community. He appeared in Milwaukee at the Institute for the Preservation of African American Music and Arts. The meeting was organised for about 100 people, aiming to reach out to influential local leaders, including pastors, in the black community.

The former US president told the gathered crowd, "I can't be with my grandchildren today for Halloween because it's about their future." Clinton assured the crowd that the purpose of his visit was "to explain things to people" rather than to give a speech. The Democrat touched on various topics, including inflation, the economic situation, and healthcare.

- The country's future is at stake and it may be decided in Wisconsin, he assured.

- I've already cast my vote. I voted for Kamala Harris. I think it's time for a woman president, says Romel, a participant of the meeting with Clinton, to Wirtualna Polska.

- I'm 62 years old, and I clearly remember Trump's presidency. He left us during the pandemic, towards which he had a very reserved attitude, resulting in the death of over a million Americans, he stated unequivocally.

- We support Kamala Harris, also declares a couple present at the meeting.

Michael argues that Donald Trump is out of control and can cause great harm not only in domestic affairs but also in international relations.

- He's terrible. I know this choice can have enormous consequences for future decades. I think he's terribly unpredictable and we can't leave things to chance. We need a steady hand at the wheel for the next four years, Katherine, his wife, interjects.

On Friday, the eyes of the entire world will be on Milwaukee, where the candidates will hold rallies just a few miles apart. Residents agree: it will be madness.

Trump’s rally will take place at the Fiserv Forum, where the Republicans held their convention this year. It was here that Trump first appeared after the unsuccessful attack on him.

On Wednesday, the candidates also visited the state. The Republican was up north, and the Democrat campaigned in Madison, the state capital.

On Friday, Kamala Harris chose Wisconsin State Fair Park for her rally. On-site, she will be supported not only by politicians but also by showbiz stars. For instance, Cardi B—one of the world's most famous rappers—is planned as a speaker, and stars of the local music industry are also expected to appear on stage.

In this area, key cities such as Milwaukee and Madison typically support the Democrats, mainly due to the more progressive and liberal urban electorates. Madison, home to the University of Wisconsin, is exceptionally liberal and progressive, making it a stronghold for Democrats.

Meanwhile, rural areas and smaller towns, especially in the north and west of the state, lean more towards Republicans, favouring conservative values.

From 2000 to 2012, Wisconsin consistently voted for the Democrats. Both Al Gore (in the 2000 election) and John Kerry (in the 2004 election) won the state, albeit by a narrow margin. In 2008 and 2012, Barack Obama achieved relatively clear victories here, particularly in 2008 when he had about a 14 percentage point lead over his rival. This demonstrated the Democrats’ strong popularity at the time.

The 2016 election was a turning point. Donald Trump won in Wisconsin by about 23,000 votes (less than a 1-percentage-point lead) over Hillary Clinton. Trump gained significant popularity among white working-class voters, partly due to his promises to revitalise the industry, which played a significant role in rural regions where vanishing jobs were a significant issue.

In 2020, Joe Biden reclaimed Wisconsin for the Democrats, defeating Trump by about 20,000 votes. His current Vice President, a candidate in this election, undoubtedly hopes for a similar result.