Democrats regrouping, looking to future

WLUK TV

Updated: Jun 8, 2012 9:25 PM

For many Democrats, it's been a long year and a half: from protests at the Capitol, to gathering signatures on recall petitions against Governor Scott Walker.

It seemed to all come to a crashing halt Tuesday night, when Walker defeated Tom Barrett in the recall election.

But as local Democrats prepare for the state convention in Appleton this weekend, they say they're still motivated.

"Our membership in the Brown County Democratic Party has tripled in the last two years. We've got the basis for continuing our campaign work and promoting more candidates,” said Brown County Democrats vice chair Bob Kiefert.

Statewide organizers say they've seen a similar movement in the party.

"We've seen 30 percent membership growth. Our volunteer base has doubled,” said Graeme Zielinski with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

But local Republicans say they think the state will turn red for November.

"The Republicans now in this state are in a better position right now than we were in the past,” said Outagamie County Republican chair Ron Tusler.

Exit polls from Tuesday's recall election show President Barack Obama would win Wisconsin in the fall.

Democrats say they're trying to ride that wave into November.

Both parties say they're trying to court independents.

"I believe we're the moderate party right now in the state,” said Tusler.

"In fact, I believe that the Democratic Party is now the centrist party,” said Kiefert.

And while wounds haven't quite softened between Democrats and Republicans, they're focusing their fervor on the fall.

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