ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) – With a Presidential rally coming to Northeast Wisconsin next week and the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee next summer, it’s becoming obvious that Wisconsin has turned into a pivotal state on the political map.
And according to political scientists, it makes sense.
The state is seemingly up for grabs more than ever in the past after narrowly siding with President Trump in the 2016 election, four years after voting blue and supporting Barack Obama.
David Helpap, a Political Science Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, says President Trump has cast an early on the next election.
“[It] reminds voters in the state that he’s here and he’ll be campaigning here heavily,” says Helpap. “It’s very clear that Republicans are going to be focused on Wisconsin just like the Democrats.”
The presidential rally at the Resch Center is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, which is the same night as the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
President Trump has skipped that event every year while in office, which may not be a coincidence.
“We have all these establishment politicians and the media, they’re all there in Washington and they’re having this nice dinner and they’re in their tuxes…and here I am out campaigning for you, the people,” explains Helpap. “I want to know what you think.’ It sort of brings him back to the populous roots that he sort of started with in 2016.”
The fact that President Trump will be in the area campaigning a full year and a half before the election shows how important the state could be in 2020.
“We’re certainly into that season but this is pretty early to have a big event like this,” says Helpap.
How big will the event be, though?
The arena can fit more than 10,000 people at full capacity and Terry Charles, with PMI Entertainment Group, says the number of people inside during the event will depend on how the stage is set up.
“It’s just hard to know until we get the plan from the campaign,” says Charles.
According to him, they are still working on security.
“When a presidential campaign or when a sitting president comes that’s all determined by the secret service in conjunction with local law enforcement,” says Charles.
