MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – In what’s expected to be a razor-thin presidential race, both candidates are doing everything possible to secure your vote.
Some Republicans, like former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney, have been very open about their support for Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president.
“I tell you, I have never voted for a Democrat, but this year I am proudly casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris,” said Cheney during a rally for Harris in Ripon last Thursday.
“I don’t think Donald Trump has the character qualities needed in a leader. I don’t think he has the policy preferences that Republicans used to stand for,” said John Conway with Republican Voters Against Trump in an interview with FOX 11.
In the latest Marquette Law School Poll released last week, Harris appears to have the edge over Trump among likely and registered voters in Wisconsin.The poll also showed Harris has the support from about 5% of registered Republican voters who were polled, versus less than 5% of registered Democrats polled backing Trump.
About 60% of the registered independents in the poll say they support Harris.
Political strategist Mark Graul believes Harris’ push to sway other voters is a smart idea.
“Because in an election that’s going to be decided by 20,000 — 10 to 20,000 votes — either way, every vote matters. So, if Harris can take a vote from somebody who traditionally votes Republican, that’s gonna matter,” said Graul.
Graul also points out Trump’s efforts to rally voters in areas that have historically voted for Democrats, such as Dane and Milwaukee counties.
“He knows if he can find a vote in Dane and Milwaukee County, that’s just as important as a vote in Waupaca County that he’s going to win by 70+ percent,” added Graul.
Other Republicans supporting Trump, like Republican Party of Brown County Chair Doug Reich, point to the endorsements he’s received from others, such as Robert Kennedy Jr. — an independent who will remain on the presidential ballot in Wisconsin.
“We’re building a broad movement that’s really shifted the narrative to, you know, America First — to less government, less regulation, lower prices, lower energy — more of, you know, restore free speech, religious liberties, securing our border,” said Reich.
Harris and Trump know time is running out, and both campaigns have indicated they’ll be stepping up their stumping for votes across the swing states which include Wisconsin.
A group of Wisconsin Republicans recently sent out an open letter throwing their support behind the Harris campaign. It includes some former state lawmakers.
Read the full letter below:
In the last few months, we’ve seen former Vice President Dick Cheney, Republican mayors and local elected officials, and staff alumni of President George W. Bush, the late Senator John McCain, and then-Governor Mitt Romney’s offices and campaigns make headlines endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president. We, the undersigned, are Republicans from across Wisconsin who bring the same message: Donald Trump does not align with Wisconsin values. To ensure our democracy and our economy remain strong for another four years, we must elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to the White House.
We have plenty of policy disagreements with Vice President Harris. But what we do agree upon is more important.
We agree that we cannot afford another four years of the broken promises, election denialism, and chaos of Donald Trump’s leadership. We cannot afford someone who sells out our allies abroad, cozies up to autocrats like Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping, and calls our veterans “suckers” and “losers.” We cannot afford a president who chooses politics over bipartisan solutions to pressing challenges like our U.S.-Mexico border, like Trump did when he killed the border security bill earlier this year. And we cannot afford his tariff plan that economists say will set off an “inflation bomb,” cause a recession, and cost Wisconsin families nearly $4,000 per year.
So, the choice for Republicans this November is a choice between the Wisconsin values of freedom, democracy, and decency that Vice President Harris and Governor Walz represent, and Donald Trump’s complete lack of character, divisive rhetoric, and extremism.
So, we call upon all Wisconsinites – specifically our fellow Republicans – to ask more for ourselves, to go where our state motto tells us to go: forward, and elect Vice President Kamala Harris.
Sincerely,
1.Buffalo County District Attorney Tom Bilski, Alma
2.Former Brown County GOP Chair Mark Becker, Sobieski
3.Former Iowa County Sheriff Steve Michek, Dodgeville
4.Former State Senator Barbara Lorman, Fort Atkinson
5.Former State Representative Margaret Lewis, Middleton Town
6.Former State Representative Susan B. Vergeront, Sun Prairie
7.Former GOP 8th Congressional District Secretary Tracy Ann Mangold, Combined Locks
8.Theresa Severson, Madison
9.Dyke Justin, Portage
10.Jess Mangold, Combined Locks
11.Kevin Nelson, Spring Green
12.Heidi Holmes, Madison
13.Lisa Roberts, Madison
14.Mary Stuiber, Madison
15.Dave Bullock, Waukesha
16.Gina Phillips, Appleton
17.Tiffany Koehler, Slinger
18.Kate Harrold, New Richmond
19.Mike Augustson, Fontana
20.Tamia Trulson, Hudson
21.Vernetta Jefferson, Mequon
22.Linda Carter, Lake Geneva
23.Joe Franke, Milwaukee
24.Jocelyn Gaddini, Milwaukee
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