They were only advisory votes, but the Wisconsin communities holding referendums on the Iraq war came down heavily on the side of bringing the troops home now.

Out of 32 cities, villages and towns where the issue was on the spring election ballot, 24 passed referendums calling for the withdrawal of troops. The referendums were voted down in the other eight spots.

Among the places passing the referendums were Madison, La Crosse, Ladysmith, Sturgeon Bay and the Milwaukee suburbs of Shorewood and Whitefish Bay.

Places where the referendums were voted down included Hayward, Watertown and Kewaunee.

Political observers say the results may not have great significance, since those who petitioned to get the issue on the ballot were the most motivated to get voters to the polls, and turnouts are normally light in spring elections.

Still, as Professor Joe Heim from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse says, the vote reflected that there's substantial dissatisfaction with the war.