Harris and Trump to hold dueling rallies in Milwaukee in final days of campaign

If voters in Wisconsin had any doubt about the state’s importance in the road to the White House, the candidates’ nearly constant visits to the state should put those to rest.

Both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will hold rallies in Wisconsin on Friday with just four days to go until Election Day. It will be the candidates’ second swing through the state this week, following events for both campaigns on Wednesday.

Friday’s events will culminate in nearly back-to-back rallies in Milwaukee.

Trump will hold a rally at the Fiserv Forum that begins at 8 p.m. And Harris will hold a rally about seven miles away at the Wisconsin State Fair Exposition Center. According to the state Democratic Party, the Harris event includes a concert and will run from 6 to 10 p.m.

Milwaukee Police said area residents should expect road closures in the area.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said the nearly simultaneous campaign events in the city show how critical Wisconsin and its largest city are to winning the White House.

“It just goes to show the importance of this city and the importance of this state in presidential elections,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said.

Trump and Harris have been holding a marathon series of events in swing states in the final lead up to Election Day Nov. 5 as polls show the race essentially tied.

Before heading to Milwaukee Friday, Harris will hold a get-out-the-vote event in Appleton at 6 p.m. and will be in Janesville earlier in the day.

In the final Marquette University Law School Poll released Wednesday, Harris held a 1-point lead in the state, with 50 percent of likely voters saying they planned to vote for the vice president, and 49 percent for Trump.

Marquette Pollster Charles Franklin called the race a coin flip.

“It should not surprise anyone if Donald Trump wins and it should not surprise anyone if Kamala Harris wins, because the polling, ours and the polling average for the state, which is under a 1 percent average margin right now, are just so close that polling is not going to help us at all to have confidence in who is the likely winner,” Franklin said at an event releasing the poll results.

In that environment, the campaigns are doing all they can to inspire voters to get to the polls.

While the two rallies in the Milwaukee area Friday are likely to draw thousands of Trump and Harris supporters, Johnson said he is not concerned about the city’s ability to handle security for the crowds.

“They’ll (Milwaukee Police Department) continue working with all partners, including other law enforcement agencies, to make sure the city is safe,” Johnson said.

Joe Biesk, a spokesperson for the U.S. Secret Service’s Chicago Field Office, said residents in the area could expect “some intermittent traffic impacts and parking restrictions” over the next two days.

“We have really good working relationships with local law enforcement in Milwaukee and Milwaukee County,” Biesk said. “We work closely with them to maintain a secure environment, not just for the protectees, but for the local residents.”