Harris to campaign with Crowley as Wisconsin governor's race hits final week

Former Vice President Kamala Harris will campaign in Wisconsin with Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley in the final week before the election, a visit both campaigns are framing in sharply different terms. Harris's appearance with Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, is intended to drive voter participation and build enthusiasm. Republican candidate Tom Tiffany said Monday that the visit shows Crowley's campaign is struggling to generate interest of its own.

Tiffany spoke at a campaign stop in Racine on Monday, where protesters gathered outside the event. Protesters have appeared at his events across the state. Tiffany called them misinformed. "We think the race is basically a dead heat at this point, but we think the enthusiasm is on our side, and our arrow is straight up," he said. Joining him were Eric Toney, the Republican candidate for attorney general, and Bryan Steil, who is running to hold his seat in Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District.

In West Bend on Monday, Crowley campaigned with Governor Tony Evers, who backed him during the primary. Crowley has described his candidacy as reaching beyond party lines. "I'm running as a Democrat, but I am not just running for Democrats. I am not looking to be a governor for just Democrats or just Republicans, I am running to be a governor for everybody," he said. He also said he welcomes Harris's support. "As a kid who grew up in the city of Milwaukee running for governor, I never would have thought I would be in this position," Crowley said. "So, I am excited to have not only her, but anybody who wants to continue to support our campaign to tackle the affordability crisis, to make sure we are lowering costs."

Tiffany said turnout will decide the race, pointing to the drop in participation typical of midterm elections. "It is turning out those conservative voters. About a 20% dropoff, typically, midterm election from the presidential election; it's turning out those conservative thinking voters, but we believe we are going to do that," he said. He also said President Donald Trump has not committed to visiting Wisconsin before the election, and that Trump is focused on Senate and congressional races. Crowley has campaigned on the cost of living. "I am running because we have had billionaires, here in the state of Wisconsin and across this country, who have literally been trying to buy elections, yet they can't invest in our public schools, they can't invest in childcare, they can't invest in healthcare, and those are things that are hurting people the most," he said.

Tiffany said Harris's appearance reflects weakness in Crowley's campaign. "I mean they are going to every means possible to try and turn voters out because the enthusiasm is just not there for David Crowley," Tiffany said. "The Francesca Hong voters and others, they are not excited about David Crowley, that's why Kamala Harris is here." Protesters were present outside Tiffany's Racine event on Monday.