With Wisconsin’s presidential preference primary looming, the remaining candidates hit the campaign trail this weekend with numerous stops across the state. Several cities saw multiple candidates roll through, as both Republicans and Democrats tried to make one last connection with voters ahead of Tuesday’s election.
Eau Claire alone saw visits from four of the five candidates, with Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders speaking within hours of each other Saturday. Republican front-runner Donald Trump also made a stop on Saturday, while U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) held a rally Sunday evening. Ohio Governor John Kasich, who is also seeking the Republican nomination, made stops in both Janesville and Madison on Saturday.
The feverish pace of visits comes as many Republicans who oppose Trump’s candidacy look to make Wisconsin a tipping point in the race for the nomination.
Trump currently leads the delegate count, but Cruz could make up lost ground with a big win in Wisconsin this week and possibly turn that into momentum in future state contests. The latest Marquette University Law School Poll had Cruz leading Trump by ten points. Several prominent state Republicans, including Governor Scott Walker, have also endorsed his candidacy.
During a rally in Green Bay Sunday, with Walker appearing alongside him, Cruz told supporters that Trump would lose the race for Republicans in November if he gets the nomination. He argued he has what it takes to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in the race for the White House.
For Sanders, a win in Wisconsin could provide a needed boost for his campaign against former Secretary of State Clinton. The Vermont Senator capped off his weekend with a rally at the Kohl Center on the UW-Madison campus, where he continued with criticisms of Governor Walker’s policies on everything from education to voter ID, and made the case that a high turnout will be a key to any chance of victory on Tuesday.
Both Sanders and Cruz plan to continue with campaign swings through the state on Monday. Cruz will be in Madison, while Sanders will be in Janesville, Green Bay, and Milwaukee. Trump has rallies planned in La Crosse, Superior, and Milwaukee. Former President Bill Clinton will campaign on behalf of his wife during a rally in Milwaukee.
Voters head to the polls on Tuesday, April 5.
Affiliates WHBY, WAYY, WIBA, and WSAU contributed to this report.
