Wisconsin is set to take center stage this primary season. Wisconsin’s Democratic primaries Feb. 17 will take place on their own, without any other states’ contests occurring that same night. In addition, no other primary will occur the week leading up to or the week following the election here, meaning Wisconsin will have a two-week window to showcase its Democratic Party showdown.

“The Wisconsin primary is going to be more important than in years past,” said Seth Boffeli, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Communications Director. “Being all by ourselves lends a lot of importance to the state.”

Candidates will begin campaigning heavily in the state within a week, intensifying their presence considerably in the days leading up to Feb. 17. All the major candidates are expected to campaign in Wisconsin, unlike the Iowa caucus where Gen. Wesley Clark and Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) ignored the race to focus their efforts on the upcoming New Hampshire primary.

Many believe the timing of the Wisconsin primary makes the contest here one of the season’s most pivotal elections in determining who will emerge as the winner from a tight muddle of Democratic contenders. The unexpected win in Iowa by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) over favorite Howard Dean showed the nomination is still yet to be determined.

“A lot of people are predicting Wisconsin will be a showdown between the remaining candidates,” Boffeli said.

The Wisconsin primary is the last contest before the March 2 “Super Tuesday” lineup, when 14 primaries and caucuses will take place all on the same night.

The state will also garner national attention for its unique “open primary,” which allows citizens to vote in the Democratic primary without previously registering as a member of the party.

The Democratic Party moved its presidential primary up earlier this year in order to have the Democratic candidate for president emerge from the race sooner. Democrats hope to pick a candidate quickly to end infighting within the party and begin rallying behind a single candidate in their quest to retake the White House.

However, due to the current close race, many say it is difficult to name any candidate as the favorite. Although Dean is considered the favorite in Wisconsin, most experts agree the race could belong to anybody.

“Anyone who tells you they know what is going to happen in Wisconsin is talking through their hat,” UW political science professor Kenneth Mayer said. “Seventy-two hours ago everyone said Dean had this thing wrapped up. Now the conventional wisdom has changed.”