Ground game could determine governor’s race

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Republicans believe advances they’ve made in their efforts to identify voters and get them to the polls this fall will lead Gov. Scott Walker to a re-election victory. But Democrats say Republicans are far from matching the ground game built over the past eight years.

Both sides agree that whoever is better able to get their voters to the polls could be the difference in the race pitting Gov. Scott Walker against expected Democratic nominee Mary Burke.

Republicans both in Wisconsin and nationwide have been using new data and analytics tools to improve voter outreach, fundraising and campaign tactics.

Democrats, too, are fighting to maintain the edge they developed leading into the presidential election as they face the challenge of mobilizing their side in an off-year election.