Walking around Monday afternoon, I saw (and not for the first time) an Obama message in the sky. Someone rented one of those planes that will trail a message, and flew it above Madison with an Obama “O” logo and “Vote Obama.” I doubt this was an official campaign expenditure (more likely a supporter with a knack for creative, amusingly old-school advertising), but it has been by far the strangest form of campaigning I’ve seen so far. I wonder if a McCain supporter will be inspired to rent a sky-writer and put “MAVERICK” in the air above Pennsylvania.

At his weekly press conference Monday, Wisconsin football head coach Bret Bielema spent most of the time explaining why his team fell to 4-5 on the season, but was also asked “who are you voting for tomorrow?”

Bielema joked, “I didn’t know there was an election” and said he would remain a neutral representative of the University.

Playing off of the traditional Wisconsin song “Varsity” (sung at half-time, after games, and whenever we really feel like it), an Obama supporter created a t-shirt that parodies its main line, which reads, “U-rah-rah Obama.”

Madison’s annual Halloween “Freakfest” celebration featured several revelers dressed as Sarah Palin.

Before Wisconsin played Penn State a few weeks ago, the hosts of a pregame party outside Camp Randall Stadium were handing out McCain/Palin signs to attendees. The party had all the marks of a true Wisconsin tailgate – beer, brats, beer pong, music, and more beer. I’m sure that’s exactly what McCain wants the campaign to be associated with: (mostly underage) binge drinking. 

---