The U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin is getting more national attention.

This morning the Wall Street Journal takes a look at what's happening in Wisconsin.

Democrats for the first time are acknowledging that Republicans could retake the Senate this November if everything falls into place for the GOP, less than two years after Democrats held a daunting 60-seat majority.

Leaders of both parties have believed for months that Republicans could win the House, where every lawmaker faces re-election. But a change of party control in the Senate, where only a third of the members are running and Republicans must capture 10 seats, seemed out of the question.

That's no longer the case. The emergence of competitive Republican candidates in Wisconsin, Washington and California—Democratic-leaning states where polls now show tight races—bring the number of seats that Republicans could seize from the Democrats to 11.

...Democrats say that GOP primary voters boosted Democratic chances by selecting several tea party-inspired candidates who are proving to be too conservative or anti-government for the general electorate.

Wisconsin has emerged as a test of that claim. In the weeks before the Republican convention in late May, Ron Johnson, who hasn't held political office, began appearing at tea party rallies. Tall and silver-haired, he proved a commanding speaker.

Mr. Johnson provided copies of his speeches to local talk radio hosts, and conservative host Charlie Sykes read excerpts over the air. Mr. Johnson jumped into the race six days before the convention, pledging to spend millions on the campaign. "He literally came out of nowhere," said Brian Westrate, chairman of the Eau Claire County GOP.

Mr. Johnson built his successful company, which makes a specialty plastic for packaging, from the ground up, and it exports to various countries including China. But he also has made comments Democrats have seized on, such as asking in a March speech, "How is Social Security different from a giant Ponzi scheme?" Democrats are using that quote to suggest Mr. Johnson is radically anti-government. Mr. Johnson rejects the idea. "The problem is that Social Security funds have been spent," he said in an interview. "They're gone. I'm just describing the problem."

Wisconsin's Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold, meanwhile, says he's not taking the threat lightly. His campaign held 132 events the week of July 4 alone, and he has hosted town hall meetings in each of Wisconsin's 72 counties.

"I'm sure it will be close, but I'm used to that," Mr. Feingold said. "I will personally fight for every vote."

On many on high-profile, issues, Mr. Feingold has been able to separate himself from the Washington establishment that is now so unpopular. Last week, he was the sole Democratic senator to oppose the new bank regulation law, saying it was too weak.