Donald Trump headed to Wisconsin as GOP leaders condemn comments
MADISON — Donald Trump is headed to Wisconsin, even as fellow Republicans in the state are distancing themselves from politically charged comments he made about the parents of a soldier killed in action.
Now that the Republican and Democratic National Conventions are behind the candidates, the numbers game has begun. It appears Trump will work to collect Wisconsin's 10 electoral votes.
"This is where they start dividing up the states," UWM Professor Mordecai Lee said.
The Republican presidential nominee plans to campaign in Green Bay on Friday, August 5th -- his first Wisconsin stop since the April primary. Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence was in Waukesha for a rally last Wednesday, July 27th.
Trump has faced bipartisan criticism for engaging in an emotionally-charged feud with the bereaved parents of a decorated Muslim Army captain killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq.
Trump supporter Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Sunday, July 31st that the parents of a fallen soldier should be off limits. He said: "I've gone to too many funerals, met too many families. What they've sacrificed is just unbelievable."
House Speaker Paul Ryan said the Khan's sacrifice should always be honored -- "period."
Hillary Clinton
Meanwhile, on the campaign trail, Lee said he expects Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to bypass either true blue or deep red states.
"Nobody is going to campaign in California because today we know California will go Democratic and nobody is going to campaign in Wyoming because we know it's going to go Republican," Lee said.
Lee said Trump's planned visit to Green Bay is further proof of Wisconsin's relevance in this race.
Mordecai Lee
"The logic of sending Mike Pence was to mobilize the base. The logic of sending Trump to Green Bay is to persuade those few persuadables in Wisconsin," Lee said.
When Trump was last in Wisconsin for the April primary, Governor Walker was supporting Ted Cruz.
At the Republican National Convention in July, Walker said he would campaign with Trump if he swings through Wisconsin.
"Sure -- if he comes to Wisconsin. I assume he will. I hope he will. If Trump or for that matter Mike Pence come to Wisconsin, we'll help them there," Walker said.
Lee said Wisconsin may not be a key battleground state, but he said the Badger State is valuable as an alternative route to 270 electoral votes.
"That's where Wisconsin is right now. We're in the scenario that if he doesn't win the big three -- Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida -- Wisconsin all of a sudden becomes a way around it. What every party is looking for is that ever so slight advantage," Lee said.
The most recent Marquette University Law School poll, released on July 13th shows Clinton slightly above the margin of error in a head-to-head with Trump.
With recent attention from the Trump ticket, you might expect a Democratic visit in Wisconsin in the near future.