What do you mean "Off Year?"

The talking heads on the cable channels love to talk about this being an "off year" for elections, their way of describing the midterms when there's no big Presidential race for them to follow.  It's more difficult to follow the 37 elections for governor, the (coincidentally) 37 U.S. Senate seat races, 435 Congressional campaigns and all the state legislative races.

But anyone who remembers Dave Zien in northern Wisconsin or Tom Reynolds in southeast Wisconsin can tell you legislative races matter.  (Can we say yet again say thank you, Pat Kreitlow and Jim Sullivan, for what you did in 2006?)  And even if Russ Feingold causes occasional headaches for his party bosses, can you imagine if he lost and got replaced by any of the Angry White Rich Guys who have challenged him: Mark Neumann, Tim Michels, Ron Johnson?

And who doesn't shudder at thoughts of "Governor Mark Green" or "Governor Scott Walker" or "Congressman Sean Duffy?"

So, yes, all the non-presidential elections matter to... and that leads to an invitation to discuss this around the Cheese Platter:

Which Race is Most Critical for Western Wisconsin Voters on Nov. 2, 2010?
(we put the choices put in random order and invite you to send a comment on why a particular race is more important than the others)

67th Assembly race to succeed Jeff Wood -
CW King vs. winner of GOP primary with 6 candidates

U.S. Senate race - Russ Feingold vs. Ron Johnson or David Westlake

31st State Senate - Kathleen Vinehout vs. Ed Thompson

Wisconsin Governor's race to succeed Jim Doyle -
Tom Barrett vs. Scott Walker or Mark Neuman

68th Assembly - Kristen Dexter vs. Kathy Bernier

23rd State Senate - Pat Kreitlow vs. Terry Moulton

7th Congressional race to succeed Dave Obey -
Julie Lassa vs. Sean Duffy or Dan Mielke

29th Assembly - John Murtha vs. Liz Jones

3rd Congressional - Ron Kind vs. Dan Kapanke

93rd Assembly - Jeff Smith vs. winner of GOP primary with 3 candidates

Btw, two things stand out from this list: how sad it is that Democrats couldn't find someone to provide at least token opposition to Scott Suder in the 69th district, and how divided the Republicans are with several primaries with large numbers of candidates.  Say what you will about Democrats enjoying the occasional circular firing squad, the GOP has been proving all year long across the country that they know how to shoot holes in their own rowboats, too.