To:	Members of the Press
From:	Danny O’Driscoll, Wisconsin State Manager, Romney for President
Date:	September 21, 2012
Re:	President Obama’s Wisconsin Problem

When President Obama arrives in Milwaukee tomorrow, it will be his first visit to the Badger State in 220 days. In 2008, he carried Wisconsin by 14 points – no surprise, since Democrats have won Wisconsin in every presidential election since 1984.

President Obama has yet to give an explanation for this dramatic decrease in support. But the fact is that voters are disappointed that he has not lived up to the promises he made four years ago.

Consider what has happened in Wisconsin since he was last here in February:

1. More than 23 million Americans are still struggling for work – and the nation experienced its 43rd straight month of unemployment above 8%.

2. The U.S. Census Bureau released new data, which showed incomes in decline and poverty at record levels.

3. Food-stamp enrollment climbed to a record 46.7 million.

4. The national debt surpassed $16 trillion – driving every Wisconsinite’s share of the debt to over $51,000.

5. The federal government officially reported its fourth straight trillion-dollar deficit, all under President Obama.

President Obama’s failure to turn around the economy and get America working again is the reason Wisconsin voters are looking for a different path. It is one reason Republicans in the state have made significant gains in recent years. For example, since 2008:

1. Scott Walker was elected Governor by nearly 6 percent.

2. Ron Johnson defeated three-term incumbent Senator Russ Feingold by nearly 5 percent.

3. Republicans gained control of the State Assembly.

4. Republicans won two congressional seats previously held by Democrats.

Since President Obama’s last visit, volunteers have made millions of voter contacts that helped Scott Walker become the first governor in history to beat back a recall effort. President Obama was notably absent during the race, deciding not to appear with the Democratic candidate, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Our grassroots campaign was so effective that Scott Walker went on to defeat his 2010 opponent by a wider margin than when he was first elected.

Mitt Romney has been dedicated to winning Wisconsin since day one. He has already made two post-primary campaign visits to the state to discuss his five-point Plan for a Stronger Middle Class, which will create 240,000 jobs in Wisconsin. Since Paul Ryan joined the ticket, he has been on the stump in the Badger State three times. Just this week, Ann Romney visited Wisconsin to rally supporters.

Since the announcement of Paul Ryan as our vice presidential candidate in August, 7 of 11 polls released either have the Romney-Ryan ticket slightly ahead or within the margin of error. The YouGov and Rasmussen polls released on September 20 continue to show that Wisconsin is a top-tier battleground state.

The Quinnipiac/New York Times/CBS poll released on September 19 shows Governor Romney gaining ground with independents since its last poll was in the field. The Romney-Ryan ticket now garners the support of 50 percent of independents. The poll also confirms that President Obama has thus far failed to motivate his base. By a staggering sixteen point margin, Republicans are more likely than Democrats to vote in this election.

Our party’s enthusiasm will not only translate into higher turnout among Republicans in November, it also means that our grassroots organization, which has already made millions of voter contacts this year, is even more motivated to support Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.

Since we began our grassroots efforts in July, we have made five times the number of phone calls and 72 times the number of door knocks made in 2008. Next week, we are poised to make our one millionth voter contact in support of the Romney-Ryan ticket.

After two visits from Vice President Joe Biden and visits from Michelle Obama, Kathleen Sibelius, and Ken Salazar, it is clear Democrats are finally acknowledging what has been evident for some time: President Obama has a Wisconsin problem.