MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) - The Democratic Party of Wisconsin says it will raise about a half-million dollars to spend on hiring regional political directors in Green Bay, Eau Claire and La Crosse.

The party calls it a “72-county strategy.” Party officials say losses in the 2010 election can be blamed on the failure to turn out voters in Milwaukee and Madison. They say they also need to be more competitive outside the population centers. The effort is aimed at defeating Governor Scott Walker in the 2014 election.

Though the party hasn’t picked a candidate yet, it expects to have one by the end of this year. The Democrats also hope they can regain control of both the Senate and Assembly.