The Election Cycles Cycle On: A Prediction

Scott Walker begins his new term today as Milwaukee County Executive, and his next year will be aimed at two things:

1. Submitting another tax-freeze budget for '09, leaving the down-and-dirty work of saving services to the County Board with funding restorations, and...

2. Using that submitted shell of a budget to launch another run for Governor in the 2010 election.

It's a campaign that will be styled on the Gableman candidacy: repeating a few simple talking points and relying on the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and other special interest millionaire clubs to flood the airwaves with ads.

Paradoxically, Democrats have enabled business development and residential growth with road expansion and pending Lake Michigan water transfers, right into the heart of Milwaukee suburban areas that vote 2:1 Republican, and more, and where the population is growing.

With little connection considered between policy-making, spending and voting patterns, Democrats statewide are giving Republican politicians like Walker a helping hand.

Part of the reason is that Democrats are overly-focused on Madison and Dane County.

Southeastern Wisconsin is still a political mystery among too many Democrats in Madison, and out-state, though the lessons embedded in Butler's defeat couldn't be any clearer.

One more reminder:

Walker has won two elections in Milwaukee County - - the traditional Democratic voting base.

Against a Democrat, Walker may not be able to carry Milwaukee County, but depending on the campaigns, he could take a big enough bite to cause the Democrats a serious problem.

The one thing he won't have to worry about is the Democrats doing the same thing to him in Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington and Walworth Counties.