Congressman Paul Ryan faces primary challenge on August 9th, and he'll do so without Trump's support

MILWAUKEE -- The divide remains between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan. The Wisconsin congressman faces a primary challenge on Tuesday, August 9th, and as it stands, he will do so without Trump's support.

Paul Nehlen

Trump has not endorsed Paul Nehlen, but he made waves Tuesday, August 2nd when he said he wasn't ready to endorse Ryan.

On Wednesday, August 3rd, Nehlen tried to drive an even deeper wedge between Ryan and Trump.

"August 9th is Wisconsin`s Independence Day," Nehlen said.

Paul Ryan

Reading from a speech held by a staffer Wednesday in Janesville, Nehlen accused Ryan of trying to undermine the party's presidential nominee.

"Speaker Ryan`s repeated betrayal of Donald Trump is an act of sabotage against our party, an act of sabotage against our Republican electorate, who selected Mr. Trump as our nominee," Nehlen said.

Donald Trump

This, one day after Trump said he isn't ready to endorse Ryan in this race.

In a statement, Ryan's campaign said: "Neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team ever asked for Donald Trump's endorsement, and we are confident in a victory next week regardless."

"I don`t see, generally speaking, Paul Ryan as a vulnerable incumbent," UWM Professor Mordecai Lee said.

Lee said Trump's non-endorsement draws national attention to Tuesday's primary -- one that could make Trump look bad if Ryan wins.

Mordecai Lee

"And not by a smidge, but by a decisive margin, then what does Donald Trump say? The national media will interpret the result of Paul Ryan getting renominated as a defeat of Trump Republicanism," Lee said.

A Nehlen win would be a huge upset.

Combined data from the June and July Marquette University Law School polls shows that among Republican-leaning voters in the district, Ryan has a 'favorable' rating of 84 percent.

Nehlen dismissed those results.

"You are referring to a very old poll. I am well within striking distance of Speaker Ryan and he knows it," Nehlen said.

A Ryan aide told FOX6 News Wednesday this whole Trump endorsement situation is frustrating, but said Ryan still endorses Trump.

Ryan did receive an endorsement Wednesday from Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who will rally with Trump in Green Bay on Friday, August 5th.

Ryan is one of several top-ranking Wisconsin Republicans who will not attend that rally.