Wisconsin GOP Leaders Join Forces For Final Pre-Election Push

With the race for Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate seat locked in a statistical dead heat, Republican Sen. Ron Johnson and Democrat Russ Feingold are crisscrossing the state making their final pitches to voters. Wisconsin Public Radio spent a day on the road with both campaigns during the last weekend before Election Day.

At about 9 a.m. Saturday, GOP Sen. Ron Johnson had just arrived at United Alloy, a steel fabrication company in Janesville.

He took a short tour of the factory. Overall it was a run-of-the-mill campaign stop.

But on that particular day, Johnson had some reinforcements, including U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, who happens to live in Janesville.

“Ron Johnson is one of those rare bright lights in the United States Senate who knows how to create jobs,” Ryan said.

Wearing nearly matching red sweaters and jeans, Ryan and Johnson looked like teammates. And that might have been intentional. Wisconsin Republicans are making a strong push in the final days of the senator’s campaign. All the big names have been getting together to unite and rally their Republican base.

And all of them, Johnson included, are driving home the message that got him elected in 2010, during his first contest against Democrat Russ Feingold.

“I’ve actually created jobs for middle-income Wisconsinites,” Johnson said Saturday. “I know how to grow a business. As a result, I know what we need to do to get our economy realizing its full potential.”

After a short press conference at the factory, Johnson and Ryan jumped back into their respective SUVs. They had places to be.

The next stop was about 50 miles down the road in Mukwonago, where Gov. Scott Walker and Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence were waiting for them.

Among a long line of people waiting to get into the rally was Mukwonago resident Tom Sisk. He said he likes Johnson because he’s “down to earth.”

“He’s a Wisconsin guy,” Sisk said. “He doesn’t get drawn up in all the other outside interests that some of the other folks in the race do. They say they don’t, but you look at the record. And that’s the thing with Johnson. You look at his record, he’s a businessman, he’s created jobs, and he’s actually run a business and done well for Wisconsin.”

Susan Stone drove from Whitewater for the rally. She also appreciates Johnson’s business background.

“I think one of the main issues in this campaign should be to get our economy going, and I think he’s done a lot for us as a state,” Stone said.

As supporters continued to arrive, Republican candidates and politicians filed on stage to speak, standing in front of a big green tour bus with “Ron Johnson For Wisconsin” plastered on the side.

First up was Walker.

“I’m spending all day today and tomorrow going around the state making sure Ron Johnson is the next U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin,” Walker said.

Then Johnson took the stage, followed by Ryan, and last up, Pence, who serves as Indiana’s governor.

“You know, I can honestly tell you that I was for Ron Johnson before it was cool,” Pence joked. “I met Ron Johnson before that last campaign; and I’ll tell you what, I knew this was a guy who was going to go and shake up the status quo just like another businessman that we’re going to send to the White House.”

After the speeches, Johnson, Ryan and Walker loaded back up in their campaign caravan. They had 150 miles to go. A stop in Green Bay, where everyone except Pence was on the books.

Johnson said he’s traveled more than 150,000 miles around Wisconsin since he was elected. But he’s got time, in these final days, to log a few more, with a little help from his friends.