MILWAUKEE (SPECTRUM NEWS) – Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler doesn't think nominee former Vice President Joe Biden choosing not to visit the state this week will hurt his chances in November.
Wikler said voters want a president who can get the pandemic under control and safely reopen the economy and schools.
“On the one hand you have Joe Biden, who is following the advice of public health experts so that his political campaign doesn't endanger the public, and on the other hand you have Trump, Eric Trump, and Mike Pence waltzing around Wisconsin like there is no pandemic and I think that tells the story of the choice here,” Wikler said. “Do you want a president who takes COVID and the effect it has on people's lives seriously or do you want a Donald Trump, who at this point, is only looking out for himself?”
So far this week, the virtual convention hasn't featured Milwaukee while President Trump's campaign visited Wisconsin Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Even though the convention host city hasn't been front and center, Wikler said he supports the strategy of the national party.
“I want the country to have a chance to fall in love with Milwaukee the same way everyone who has spent time physically in Milwaukee has done. It's just one of the country's great cities and it's kind of a best-kept secret, it's a treasure. I will say that this convention has become a kind of anchored in Milwaukee convention across America, and so what's happening right now is that people in every state around the country are seeing themselves in their communities present in the Democratic National Convention this year and I get that as a strategy.”
Another part of the Democratic Party's strategy heavily focuses on volunteers.
“This convention does not involve thousands of cameras flocking to Milwaukee, that is the undeniable truth,” Wikler said. “What it will mean is thousands of volunteers pouring themselves into the work to win Wisconsin this fall.”
Switching to a virtual format has made recruiting and training easier, according to Wikler.
“During this virtual convention we're operating a massive virtual training for campaign organizers and volunteers called 'Campaign Academy 2020,' Wikler said. “We've wanted to do an in-person training at the in-person convention. The virtual training is much bigger and so many more. It's thousands upon thousands of people participating. That would not have been possible with 'Plan A,' so there are some major silver linings. Although, you know it's not what we anticipated what this convention would be, but we're making a lot of lemonade out of these lemons.”
Lacking an in-person convention hasn't stymied fundraising efforts either.
“We had a fundraising event with the team from 'The West Wing' that brought in small-dollar contributions from across the country at the kind of scale that I would've been thrilled about at an in-person convention,” Wikler said.
Though it hasn't turned out to be the convention many envisioned, Wikler said Wisconsin has never received this much attention regardless of the virtual format. He pointed to a line-up of speakers that have included Wisconsinites every night.
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) welcomed the convention to Milwaukee Monday night, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes represented Wisconsin during Tuesday night's roll call, Gov. Tony Evers offered opening remarks Wednesday night, and Sen. Tammy Baldwin is scheduled to speak Thursday night.