The State of State Politics

In our continuing series on the business of politics, we look to state political parties - where the real action happens. Dealing with state, local and national races, state political parties are where volunteerism in politics starts, and where fundraising rubber meets the road. Running a state political parties is the work if being a candidate for office onesself - and it involves managing people, dollars, public perception and a changing political environment on the best of days. In a state as politically diverse (some might say confused) as Wisconsin, it's downright complex.If all politics are local, and local politics are retail politics, then is state politics just another form of retail business?