Aaron Rodgers is in a weird position. The spotlight shines brightly on him, yet he stands in a shadow of a legend. He has been entrusted with the starting quarterback position, yet very few Packer fans have trust in him.

     Ryan Braun has done it all in a short amount of time. He rocketed through the minor leagues. He won the National League Rookie of the Year award, despite missing nearly the first two months of the season. He switched positions this season, making him the first Rookie of the Year award winner to switch positions the following year. He became a millionaire.

     Wisconsin sports fans, welcome to Election ’08. Wisconsin sports fans no longer have someone sitting at the head table. The spot needs to be filled. The incumbent has resigned his post. No longer will Wisconsin sports fans have Mr. Brett Favre as their face, their voice, or their clutch player. The votes are in, and two are left standing. Will it be Rodgers or Braun? Brett Favre took his seat at the head table in 1993, and wasn’t challenged. There was talk a replacement had already been chosen and was being groomed to be Favre’s successor whenever Favre chose to step down, but Michael Redd has proven he cannot handle the responsibility. Andrew Bogut, A.J. Hawk, Yi Jialian, Greg Jennings, Ben Sheets, Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy, Corey Hart, the list could go on and on. Many have applied, two are left.

    Aaron Rodgers is like a person that has been working in the mailroom, and is now applying for the CEO position. Let’s face it, he rode Favre’s coattails to get this far. Outside of some impressive play in the Dallas game last year, Rodgers has had a hard time just staying healthy. Despite his questionable resume and his knack for getting injured, Rodgers will have the attention of voters every Sunday from August through December. If Rodgers is still speaking come January, his campaign would seem to be going well.

     Ryan Braun will have more opportunities to state his case, but lacks the opportunity to speak to as many voters as a whole like his opponent Aaron Rodgers does. Wisconsin loves the Packers, and Braun will have to persuade voters not to elect a Green Bay Packer to the seat. One thing Braun has going for him, unlike his opponent, he has proven he can play. There is little doubt that as long as Braun stays healthy, Braun will be voted to his first All-Star game this July. He also impressed voters when he signed a long term contract with the Brewers. Some may say he is an idiot for doing so, (Prince Fielder), but Braun did so anyway. From the outside looking in, it appears Braun put loyalty in front of himself. That speaks loudly to voters.

     Let the campaigning begin. Aaron Rodgers has an advantage in that most voters will want to keep a Packer as the face of Wisconsin sports, yet Braun might steal a saying Barrack Obama has been preaching, “It’s time for a change.” Mr. Aaron Rodgers and Mr. Ryan Braun, the stage is yours. Wisconsin will be watching.