Kristian Knutsen
Jim Doyle addresses supporters at an election eve rally at the Concourse Hotel.
With less than 24 hours remaining before the closing of the polls on Election Day 2006 (Tuesday, Nov. 7), several of the top statewide candidates in the Democratic Party gathered for a get-out-the-vote rally at the Concourse Hotel in downtown Madison. With a couple hundred people packed into a ballroom, Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair Joe Wineke introduced four supporting acts; Dane County Sheriff candidate Dave Mahoney, incumbent U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Attorney General candidate Kathleen Falk, and incumbent Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton. The headliner was Gov. Jim Doyle, who is holding onto a variable lead of several points as pre-election polling ends.
Given the relative optimism of the Democrats this cycle -- estimates and speculations from partisans, pollsters and other observers give the party anything from modest pick-ups to once-in-a-generation wave of gains -- the rally at the Concourse was predictably upbeat. The crowd of supporters was enthused throughout the rally, but particularly so when Doyle criticized his Republican opponent and that party's other candidates, and when any of the speakers expressed opposition to the amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions. How the votes are cast by the end of Tuesday remains to be seen, but its clear that this region's dominant political party is buoyant after years of at-best mixed electoral success.
Three short video clips from the rally follow below.
The first clip features DPW chair Joe Wineke introducing the first four candidates to appear and speak at the rally. Joining them on stage was Madison mayor Dave Cieslewicz, who will be running for reelection in the spring of 2007.
The second clip features a portion of the brief speech given by Tammy Baldwin at the rally. Introduced by Cieslewicz, Baldwin promotes all four candidates standing by her side, along with incumbent Governor Jim Doyle who had not yet joined them on stage.
The third video features a brief interview with Jim Doyle. Introduced by his Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, he made the most extensive remarks of the night, focusing both upon the other Democratic candidates and their Republican counterparts on the ballot. After the rally, the governor shook hands with Democratic activists in the room for some time, also speaking with members of the press from time to time. In this brief interview with The Daily Page, Doyle responds to questions about second term priorities and his relationship with the state legislature should he be reelected.
All Dane County election results will be available here after the polls close at 8 p.m.
