ELECTIONS

Wisconsin U.S. Senate race: Leah Vukmir, Tammy Baldwin open final stretch of campaigning

Bill Glauber

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Leah Vukmir (left) and Tammy Baldwin (right)

Republican challenger Leah Vukmir and Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin stepped up campaigning Sunday as they sought to ignite their political bases for the stretch run to the Nov. 6 election.

Addressing Ozaukee County Republicans in Mequon, Vukmir said the contrast between her and "Senator Baldwin could not be more clear" on a range of issues, including health care, taxes and immigration.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Leah Vukmir speaks at a Republican Party of Ozaukee County Oktoberfest event Sunday at the River Club of Mequon.

"I am excited about where we're at," she said. "We're doing incredibly well. The momentum is clearly in our direction."

Baldwin, buoyed by a sold-out Saturday night fundraiser and get-out-the-vote rally in Madison featuring the musical group Bon Iver, was out on the campaign trail Sunday.

She made appearances in Madison and Milwaukee with California Democrat Kamala Harris, a U.S. senator and likely 2020 presidential candidate. At both stops, audiences sang Happy Birthday to Harris, who turned 54 on Saturday. They were joined in Milwaukee by Democratic the candidate for governor, Tony Evers, and lieutenant governor, Mandela Barnes.

Baldwin said activists who organized around issues such as health care, taxes and gun violence are helping get out the vote.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin answers questions from the media during a campaign rally that was held at the Democratic Party north side campaign headquarters at 1801 N. King Drive in Milwaukee on Sunday.

"I really think Wisconsinites are going to say, 'Who is on our side of the issues we've been tirelessly working on for the last two years, and we're going to vote for those folks,' " Baldwin said during a news conference in Milwaukee.

In early October, a Marquette University Law School Poll showed Baldwin ahead in the race by 10 points. But neither side is taking anything for granted as more high-profile surrogates hit the state in the coming days.

Baldwin has two major Milwaukee visits coming up, Monday with independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Friday with former President Barack Obama.

Vukmir gets a visit from President Donald Trump, who will appear at an airport rally in Mosinee on Wednesday night. Republicans are counting on Trump reaching out to his rural supporters in central and northern Wisconsin.

"These are the people that supported him in droves and these are the folks we need to get out in a midterm election," Vukmir said.

Vukmir brushed aside polls that show her trailing and said "we're going to do well. I said it in the primary when I was an underdog and I'll say it again now, if elections were won on money and polls then Jeb Bush would have been our nominee and Hillary Clinton would have won. We're going to win on our ideas, our grassroots and the reforms that are making a difference in Wisconsin."

POLITIFACT: Fact-checking Tammy Baldwin and Leah Vukmir for U.S. Senate

Vukmir and other Republicans say the party's base is energized in the wake of the contentious confirmation hearings for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

"There is a surge and I think people are saying enough is enough," Vukmir said.

Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, who campaigned Sunday with Vukmir, said the Kavanaugh hearings are having an effect.

"Without question, it certainly reminded everybody how the left does behave, whether it's Robert Bork, Justice (Clarence) Thomas, Act 10 here in Wisconsin, we've seen it," Johnson said in an interview. "The press didn't even come close in reporting the vile threats that people like Leah Vukmir had to withstand and had the courage and integrity to withstand to set Wisconsin on the right path."

He said the Kavanaugh hearings and aftermath "reminded Republicans, this is how the left behaves. Trying to energize their supporters to harass us. This is only a year after (House Majority Whip) Steve Scalise was shot by a supporter of Democrats. You need to be very careful with that."

Harris, who serves on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, voiced a different point of view on the effect of the Kavanaugh hearings.

Democratic candidate for governor Tony Evers (left) holds a birthday cake for California Democrat Kamala Harris, a U.S. senator and likely 2020 presidential candidate who turned 54 on Sunday. A campaign rally was held at the Democratic Party north side campaign headquarters at 1801 N. King Drive in Milwaukee on Sunday.

"What I have witnessed over the last couple of weeks is that people are energized," she said. "There is a culmination of events including the Kavanaugh hearings that have emphasized that elections matter, elections matter who hold these offices. And it has energized people to get out to participate and vote."

Harris said that the outcome of the races in Wisconsin will affect people in her state of California.

Harris lauded Baldwin for her behind-the-scenes work in helping Democrats turn aside the repeal effort against the Affordable Care Act.

"In those small rooms, Tammy Baldwin was a monster," Harris said. "She’s always so modest and nice. And she’s tough as nails."

Harris added: "She’s the one who has been a leader in the U.S. Senate on dealing with one of the biggest issues, which is the need for our students to be able to graduate without debt."

She called the election an "inflection moment."

"This is a moment that is requiring us collectively to look in a mirror and ask this question, 'Who are we?' " Harris said. "And what we all know is we are better than this."