Thompson: Wisconsin will go for McCain

Contrary to the current Wisconsin governor's prediction this morning that strong turnout means Barack Obama will win the state "in a walk," former Gov. Tommy Thompson said John McCain will carry Wisconsin.

"Jim Doyle is drinking some Kool-Aid that is not very relevant to this election," Thompson said this afternoon in a conference call with reporters.

"Whoever motivates their base and gets voters to the polls on Election Day is going to win," Thompson said.

Thompson acknowledged that this appears to be a good year for Democrats, but he said that Obama is seeing his fortunes decline in the polls while McCain is rising. He said that may be due to Obama's "tremendous liberal positions" on abortion, or his tax plan.

"The more Barack Obama comes out with extremist views on taxation, on pro-choice and so on its going to lead to a Republican victory in November," Thompson said.

The experience factor also is in favor of McCain.

"Who would you like to have in the White House at 3 a.m. if Russia decides to invade another country? No question it's John McCain," said Thompson, who left Wisconsin to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the first George W. Bush Administration.

Thompson, who waged his own early campaign for president, said he's firmly behind the GOP nominee now.

"No question John was not my first choice. But I'm a Republican," Thompson said.

He said he has worked with McCain on a number of tasks, and called him "truthful, hard-working, patriotic and an individual you can talk to."

-- By Greg Bump