2024: The 'double haters' of Wisconsin, how crucial are they?

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- About an hour drive from one of the most powerful Democratic stronghold cities lies two crucial swing counties that could play a pivotal role in electing the next president.

Baraboo, coined the 'Circus City' where the Ringling Brothers Circus was headquartered, is home to one of Wisconsin's swing regions: Sauk County.

It’s about an hour drive from Madison, a deep blue college town that’s become a turnout machine for Democratic candidates.

Sauk county flipped blue to red in 2016 for former President Donald Trump, then four years later went for President Joe Biden. This year, it's once again up for grabs and it could come down to voters like Frank Herzer, known as a double hater.

"I can't decide," said Herzer, a resident of Baraboo for over 10 years. "I don't know what's bad or worse, you know?"

Double haters, like Herzer, are voters who don't like either of their options for president.

While some still exist, pollsters say most double haters have disappeared over the last three months.

Charles Franklin, Poll Director at Marquette University Law School, said that largely has to do with President Joe Biden exiting the race and Harris moving to the top of the ticket.

"There has been a significant decline and a fair bit of that is normal," Franklin said. "It's partisans coming home to their party, even if they were reluctant to support them early on in the campaign."

In January, 18% of Wisconsin voters fell in the double hater category, according to Marquette's poll.

Prior to that, nearly 25% had an unfavorable view of both Biden and Trump. Double haters now make up 6%, according to late September figures.

"When it was 25%, we thought it would have a major impact. At six percent… it can amount to something, but it depends on whether those double haters break heavily to one side or the other," Franklin said.

In a swing state where four of the last six presidential elections were decided by less than 1 percentage point, Herzer said he's aware how his community could ultimately decide who ends up in the White House.

"It's 50-50. You can see it everywhere," Herzer said, noting the dueling campaign signs scattered in his neighborhood for Trump and Harris.

Most of the double haters and undecided voters are moderate Republicans and independents in Marquette's latest poll. Franklin said most Democrats who were uncertain about Biden have gravitated towards Harris.

About a 20-minute drive from Baraboo is another crucial voting bloc.

Portage is the largest city in Columbia County, another purple region of the battleground state.

It voted twice for former President Barack Obama then flipped to Trump in 2016. Trump narrowly won the county by 1.5 percentage points in 2020.

Thomas Waddell, who lives in Portage, said that trend matches his voting history too. However, just a few weeks from the election he's still undecided and “not 100% sold” on voting for Trump.

"I'm 75% towards Trump," Waddel said. "I think he has a chance, but I like the fact [Harris] was a district attorney…I kind of like her."

Harris and Trump have been crisscrossing the state trying to win over those few undecided voters and the double haters. Which campaign they'll untimely lean towards remains a mystery.

But one thing most voters, regardless of party, have in common is the anxiety they share over who will come out on top.

Maynard Ziehme, a longtime Republican from Menomonie, said he's anxious about the possibility of Trump losing.

"Just worried it's not going to turn out the way I want," he said with a grin on his face.

Others can't wait until the election is in the rearview mirror.

"I'll be glad when it's over," said Allan Brennan, an independent voter from Baraboo who committed to voting for Harris. "I can't wait until the political ads are gone."