In states where votes are close, organizers are aiming to 'lose by less.' Why?

Elkhorn, Wisconsin is a small town less than an hour outside of Milwaukee that feels like a world away from the big city.

The main street looks like it's been unchanged for decades. There's a barber shop, a saloon and a restaurant that advertises homemade pizza. And while this is a Republican stronghold, Democrats are trying to make some inroads here.

"Our goal in this office is to move the needle," says Ellen Holly, the former chair of the Walworth County Democrats.

She's used to being in the blue minority. But today, she's surrounded by volunteers who agree with her, stuffing pamphlets into plastic baggies that canvassers will take door knocking around the neighborhood.

In other parts of the state, Republicans are doing the same - knocking on doors and talking to people in solidly blue areas.

In a state where every vote matters, campaigns are not only trying to win in counties where they're strongest. They're also trying to lose by less in places where votes for their candidate are harder to find.

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The Democrats

Holly says that the Wisconsin Democrats have a specific goal in mind with their efforts: win at least 42% of the vote.

It might be counterintuitive to celebrate a loss, but for Holly, it's a positive measure of progress.

"Everything we do here helps," she said. "Biden won, I think, by 21,000 votes in the state. That's what we contributed. Now, I can't say that it was just because of us, but if we did nothing, he would not have won."

In many ways, "lose by less" has become the key term in this campaign.

"Because Wisconsin elections