WISCONSIN DRAMA – AT 8:10 A.M. ET:  Political attention is focusing on Wisconsin.  In three weeks voters will go to the polls to decide whether to recall Republican Governor Scott Walker and replace him with a liberal Democrat. 

Polls show a steady five-point lead for Walker, but the Dems will have their turnout machine in high gear.  Walker has been a terrific governor and has stopped the state from sinking, but some people prefer a sinking ship, as long as it lists left.

The governor's race isn't the only drama.  A new poll out shows a stunning contest between Obama and Romney, as the Weekly Standard reports:

A newly released PPP/Daily Kos poll shows President Obama and Mitt Romney locked in essentially a dead-heat in Wisconsin — where Obama beat John McCain by 14 percentage points in 2008. The poll (which was taken shortly after Obama came out in favor of redefining marriage) shows Obama with 47 percent support and Romney with 46 percent support. The previous PPP/Daily Kos poll from Wisconsin, taken a month ago, showed Obama leading Romney by 6 points (50 to 44 percent).

And...

As I’ve previously argued, Wisconsin is one of the nine key swing states (among 13 swing states overall) in the 2012 presidential election. Three of those nine are in Democratic-leaning territory (Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Nevada), three are in Republican-leaning territory (Florida, Ohio, and Virginia), and three are in essentially neutral territory (Colorado, New Hampshire, and Iowa). If Romney could pull off the upset in either of the two larger states in Democratic territory (Pennsylvania or Wisconsin), he would deliver a major blow to Obama’s reelection prospects. Simply put, Obama cannot really afford to lose Wisconsin.

COMMENT:  Ah, that is sweet music, but it's still very early in the game.  The toughest part of the battle will come in October, five months away.

May 16,  2012