What to watch for from Wisconsin voters in the Nov. 5 election
Veteran political reporter Craig Gilbert tells us what to look for in the voting of people in Wisconsin in the Nov. 5 election.
MADISON — Republican former President Donald Trump will return to Wisconsin on Sunday for a rally at the Dodge County Airport in Juneau — a fourth campaign event in the battleground state in nine days, his campaign announced Wednesday.
The rally follows events on Tuesday in Dane and Milwaukee counties — the state’s two Democratic strongholds. Trump led in Dodge County by about 15,000 votes, or 31 percentage points, in 2020 when he lost the state to Demcoratic President Joe Biden by about 21,000 votes.
He campaigned in Prairie du Chien in southwestern Wisconsin on Saturday. His Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, has a Thursday campaign stop in the Fox Cities region. Further details have not been announced. Harris held a rally in Madison on Sept. 20.
Like his Tuesday visit to Waunakee, Trump’s remarks in Juneau are being framed by the campaign as a critique of the current Democratic administration’s economic policy.
“This November, Wisconsin voters will send a clear message at the ballot box when they reject the dangerous Democrat, Kamala Harris. Wisconsin voters know that only President Trump can Make America Affordable Again,” the campaign said in a news release.
During his remarks at the metal fabrication facility Dane Manufacturing, the former president spoke for more than 30 minutes before touching on economic issues — aside from a brief tangent during which he said he wouldn’t trust Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris or President Joe Biden “to run a lemonade stand.”
A Marquette University Law School poll released last month showed that the economy was the top issue for Wisconsin voters, with 41% ranking it as their first priority. The same poll found that to be true among 42% of independent voters.
In Waunakee, Trump pledged to cut taxes on American manufacturers to 15%, “but only if you make the product here.” Otherwise, he said, “we’re going to use the power of the tariff.” He also pledged, if elected, to bring energy prices in the U.S. down by 50% within a year of taking office, declaring the country has “liquid gold” by way of “more oil and gas under our feet than anybody else.”
He later took questions from reporters for about 45 minutes in Milwaukee after giving remarks that were similar to the points he made in Waunakee.
While speaking at Discovery World in Milwaukee, Trump hinted his team was looking at holding a rally at Fiserv Forum, which hosted the Republican National Convention in July. Harris also held a rally at the home of the Milwaukee Bucks during the Democratic National Convention.
“The building was beautiful,” Trump said. “I love Milwaukee. We had such a great convention here. They treated us so well. I also like the result. If I didn’t get the right result, I probably wouldn’t like Milwaukee. I got a great result.”
Trump added he’ll announce a rally in Green Bay soon, potentially the day before a Green Bay Packers game. He also hinted at a third event that would be similar to the press conference format of the Tuesday night event in Milwaukee, which was ultimately closed to the public.
Why candidates are campaigning in Wisconsin so much
Veteran political reporter Craig Gilbert explains why the presidential candidates are campaigning in the state so often.
Hope Karnopp of the Journal Sentinel contributed.
Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com.
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