Talk:2006 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

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Race called early

Contrary to expectations of a cliffhanger race, media outlets began calling Doyle the winner moments after the polls closed at 8 p.m., based on exit polls.

"This is a very powerful sign, that it's coming so early," said Rick Phelps, a former Dane County executive who joined others at the Doyle party. "This is a progressive state, and the country is coming back to that."

An exit poll conducted by CNN showed that 53% of those who went to the polls Tuesday were women, a group that backed Doyle over Green 59% to 40%. In the CNN survey, Doyle also won among men, 50% to 48%.

The poll also suggested that swing voters went to Doyle. Of those who voted, 27% identified themselves as independents - and 62% of those voters went to Doyle. Green received 35% of self-identified independents.

Throughout the race, both sides traded bitter allegations, with Green painting Doyle as a crooked politician who had sold out the state. Meanwhile, Doyle painted Green as a blind follower of President Bush and a tool of special interests.

The Green-Doyle race took shape in March, when Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker dropped out of the Republican primary, giving Green a clean shot at Doyle.

That helped Green raise more than Doyle this year, though Doyle's bankroll - estimated to wind up at about $12 million - was larger. Analysts say the race easily was the most expensive in state history.

With two weeks to go, the candidates and outside groups had already dumped more than $10 million into TV ads in Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay.

So, feel free to add this information in the artcle. I did not add it myself, because I did not know if it was needed. Thanks, Asher Heimermann 02:26, 24 November 2006 (UTC)