Why Wisconsin primary could be start of something big for Mitt Romney (+video)

Wisconsin's state motto is one simple word: forward. But after Tuesday's Republican presidential primary in the state, it's possible that the way forward will be slammed shut to all GOP nominees but Mitt Romney.

While Rick Santorum's campaign isn't a goner, even if he loses, Wisconsin stands out as a potential turning point in the national election for two reasons. First, the Badger State primary marks the moment when many elected Republicans across the country decided at last to cast their lot with Mr. Romney's campaign. Second, many Republican officials have lately stopped talking about "who" will be the party's nominee and are preoccupied instead with "how" to win against President Obama in November, including identifying which states (Wisconsin, perhaps?) are really up for grabs. 

Heading into the primary, the list of leading GOP figures to back Romney has lengthened. First, much-buzzed-about vice-presidential prospect Sen. Marco Rubio (R) of Florida endorsed Romney last week. Then Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky stopped just short of endorsing Romey on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, saying the odds are "overwhelming" that the former Massachusetts governor will lead the party in November. "Most" Senate Republicans, he added, have already backed Romney "or they have the view that I do, that it’s time to turn our attention to the fall campaign and begin to make the case against the president of the United States." 

Former President George H.W. Bush gave Romney his endorsement last week, following in the footsteps of his son, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who did so a week earlier.

But why now, ahead of this particular primary? Wisconsin, the thinking goes, could be the leading edge of a knockout blow. Several states where the GOP electorate is more moderate, mainly in the Northeast, will hold their nominating contests in April: Maryland and Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, followed by Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania on April 24. These favor Romney. In Pennsylvania, Mr. Santorum's home state and a place he has vowed to triumph, recent polling shows the race to be a dead heat.

There's more to the Wisconsin contest than its spot in the calendar, however. Party leaders sense that this state, which hasn't given its electoral votes to a Republican presidential contender since President Ronald Reagan's bid for a second term, might be in play come November. They know they have two of the GOP's brightest young stars to help carry the GOP message in Wisconsin – native sons Sen. Ron Johnson and Rep. Paul Ryan, both of whom gave their endorsements to Romney in recent days. 

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