Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says the key to President Donald Trump’s success in Wisconsin next year will depend on which Democrat is running against him – and just how far to the left that Democrat is.
Johnson told News Talk 1130’s Jay Weber that the Democratic candidate for president will be a huge factor in whether swing voters in Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington (WOW) counties vote for Trump.
“The greatest benefit that President Trump has for re-election is the lunatic policies of whoever he’ll be running against,” Johnson said.
A number of politicos say the president may have trouble in swing areas in the WOW counties. All three are Republican leaning, but also have seen an increase in recent years in the number of more moderate voters less inclined to support Trump’s re-election bid.
Johnson said voters in the WOW counties may have a hard time swallowing Medicare for All and open borders.
“Right now, the [Democrats] all look pretty crazy to me,” Johnson added.
Trump won Wisconsin in 2016 by less than a point, or less than 23,000 votes. He carried the WOW counties.
Johnson said a lot of conservative and Republican voters cast their ballot for Trump in 2016 to keep a conservative majority on the Supreme Court.
“You know how important the Supreme Court decision was. We lost Scalia, and filling in that seat in 2016,” Johnson said. “We have that same issue now.”
Johnson said elections are a choice between two candidates, and until we know who the other candidate will be, it’s tough to guess how that person will play against the policies of Trump.
Benjamin Yount reports on Illinois and Wisconsin statewide issues for The Center Square. Reposted with permission.
