WATERTOWN, Wis. – On Friday morning, the White House quietly announced that Vice President Harris would be making a campaign visit to Milwaukee the following Tuesday, July 23rd, her fifth visit to Wisconsin this year.
Just over 48 hours later, President Biden had officially dropped out of the race and endorsed VP Harris as his successor on the Democratic presidential ticket.
The Wisconsin Democrats have been mostly quiet about the visit, except for an email blast Sunday indicating a 12-hour sign-up period for the Harris’ event and that registering did not guarantee a spot to hopeful attendees.
Meanwhile, they’re keeping the exact time and location of the VP’s visit close to the chest, much like they did for Joe Biden’s visit on July 5.
Democrats across the nation scrambled last night after the President’s announcement surprised even White House aides, who reportedly found out from the President’s Twitter post.
Nearly 24 hours after Biden bowed out, the Wisconsin Democrat Party broke its silence Monday via X, when state party chair Ben Wikler tweeted its endorsement of Harris for president, sharing that more than 90% of the state’s Dem delegates support the VP’s bid.
On Sunday Wikler had thanked the president for his service but stopped short of endorsing VP Harris.
But after slew of Wisconsin Democrats unequivocally endorsed Harris later that night – all of whom are Democrat delegates in the state – the Dairyland Dems made it official as they prepare to host Harris Tuesday.
Gov. Tony Evers, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, and Reps. Gwen Moore and Congressman Mark Pocan are among the prominent Wisconsin Dems who quickly announced their support for Harris after Biden’s sudden statement Sunday afternoon.
While Wisconsin Dems fall in line behind Harris, Republicans in the state are left wondering about Biden’s capacity to lead through the rest of his term, and what Sen. Tammy Baldwin knew about the president’s cognition and its cover-up.
“Having already denied voters the chance to replace Joe Biden during the primaries, the Democrat Party is now subjecting the American people to chaos, uncertainty, and an incapacitated presidency,” said WisGOP Chairman Brian Schimming in a statement.
Eric Hovde, Baldwin’s GOP challenger in a tight Senate race, released a new ad this morning showing clips of Biden struggling to speak, citing Baldwin’s long friendship with the 46th president to question what she knew about Biden’s condition – and when she knew it.
Last week Milwaukee hosted the Republican National Convention where Donald Trump announced his running mate, JD Vance, and accepted the party’s presidential nomination.
The latest on President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race:
- Biden drops out of presidential race: live updates
- Kamala Harris campaign flooded with ‘record-breaking’ $81 million in donations in first 24 hours after Biden drops out
- Top Dems threatened to forcibly remove Biden from office unless he resigned, set him up to fail at Trump debate: Sources
- Schumer, Pelosi played ‘good cop, bad cop’ to convince Biden to drop out with ex speaker stating: ‘Easy way or the hard way’
- Trump and JD Vance accuse Dems of leading ‘coup’ against Biden, call to ‘invoke the 25th Amendment’
In Wisconsin, where an 1848 abortion ban put a stop to all abortions for 15 months following the Dobbs decision, Democrats have been laser-focused on the suburban women vote, particularly sending female surrogates to the swing state. Democrats are hopeful that VP Harris at the top of the Democratic ticket could push them over the 50% mark in a state where less than a percentage point has decided four of the last six presidential elections.
Top Wisconsin pollster Charles Franklin of the Marquette Law School Poll told The Post there is one path for Democrats to reach a critical consensus before the next presidential debate and the commencement of early voting: a quick nominating contest.
“If Harris quickly becomes the consensus nominee that will help clarify the race and allow Democrats to refocus,” Franklin told The Post.
“If it goes to the convention without a clear consensus that means the nominee will have less time to set the tone, with the one debate scheduled for Sept 10 and early voting starting soon after.”
“Harris as the nominee will still bear responsibility for the record of the Biden-Harris administration, with low ratings of the economy and of handling immigration,” Franklin added.
The Dems will have almost two weeks after the Democratic National Convention to finalize the top of their ticket in battleground Wisconsin.
In response to a request for comment, Riley Vetterkind, Public Information Officer for the Wisconsin Elections Commission pointed The Post to the following information on the WEC website.
Political organizations that have attained ballot status currently are the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, and Constitution parties. This is subject to change if a party petitions the Commission for ballot status. The names of candidates for President and Vice President for these parties are placed on the General Election ballot when their names are certified by the state or national chairperson to the Wisconsin Election Commission no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. Wis. Stat. § 8.16(7). Each certified candidate must file a Declaration of Candidacy (EL-162) with the Wisconsin Election Commission no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. Wis. Stat. § 8.21(1).Wisconsin Elections Commission
Wisconsin Elections Commission
Vetterkind confirmed that the Green Party has also obtained ballot access. Early voting in Wisconsin begins shortly after the Sept. 3 deadline.