Same day registration and younger voters key to Obama victory in Wisconsin

Obama won in Wisconsin on his way back to the White House (Getty Images)

President Obama won heavily contested Wisconsin, a swing state that was blanketed by both campaigns in the closing days of the race.

The state served as a key brick in the president's Midwest firewall. Obama trekked from Green Bay to Madison to Milwaukee in the last week of the campaign as outside groups dumped a record number of ads onto the airwaves.

Democrats counted on the state's progressive underpinnings and the state's same-day registration — which helps bring out younger, Democratic-leaning voters — to lead Obama to victory.

Republicans, meanwhile, thought they owned an enthusiasm advantage because Gov. Scott Walker won a recall election earlier this year. They also counted on native son Paul Ryan, the GOP vice-presidential candidate, to help get out the vote and help end a 28-year losing streak.

Outagamie County, home to Appleton, was a key swing area, going for George W. Bush by nine points in 2004 and for Obama by 12 in 2008 — a 21-point swing.

In 2008, turnout was 69 percent, the second-highest rate in the nation.

Obama, who won the state by 14 points in 2008, campaigned there three times in the campaign's last week.

Romney's stop there Friday was only his second visit to the state since mid-August.

Obama called a few volunteers in Wisconsin on Tuesday morning.

Most polls leading into this week had Obama ahead by at least one percentage point.