Evers, Michels make final pitch to voters in hotly contested governor's race

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Candidates in the hotly contested governor's race are making their final push to the polls ahead of Tuesday's election.

On Monday, Democratic incumbent Governor Tony Evers wrapped up his statewide bus tour with campaign stops in Milwaukee and Madison, two Democratic strongholds Evers is hoping to boost turnout in in an effort to secure a second term.

During his campaign stop in Milwaukee, Evers told supporters he's made inroads with rural voters as he's locked in a fierce reelection battle against his Republican opponent Tim Michels.

"Every part of the state we visited, we’re picking up votes where we had never before," Evers said. "I feel very confident where we're at."

Michels' whirlwind campaign ended with a whirlwind day. The Republican challenger held five campaign rallies Monday, culminating in Kenosha on the eve of the election.

There he told a crowd of roughly 100 supporters, "Everywhere we go, the crowds are really fired up. I don't know if it's out of frustration or they're fired up, but I know that everybody is ready for change, and change is coming tomorrow."

Michels hit the same applause lines that have become familiar throughout his campaign, saying Democrats "know inflation is up, they know that crime is up, they know education test scores are down, and they know your 401K values are down."

Back in Milwaukee, Evers credited his education platform as the reason why he believes voters are supportive of his candidacy.

"I do think education makes a difference in how people vote," Evers said. "When you look at what my opponent wants to do with education - and rural Wisconsin school districts are going to referendum now - they're scared out of their minds."

Michels has campaigned for expanding the state's private school voucher program, but he's provided limited details on how to accomplish that. He also recently made comments saying it was "insane" to continue increasing funding for K-12 schools without districts improving test scores.

Election Day will be a test to see if Evers can overcome President Joe Biden's low approval numbers as state and national polls show the economy and inflation remain top concerns among voters.

If victorious, Evers will become the first governor in 32 years to win reelection when their party is the same as a sitting president.

Michels garnered a surprise last-minute appearance from former Governor Tommy Thompson, who went against doctors' orders to stump for Michels Monday night just days after he underwent heart surgery.

Thompson told the Kenosha crowd, "This election is the most important election I've ever been involved in."

Earlier in the day, Michels held campaign events in the Green Bay area, Eau Claire and La Crosse.

He took digs at Evers on issues such as crime, inflation, and lagging test scores in K-12 schools.

"People deserve to have proper leadership and we're feeling really great," Michels said during a stop in Green Bay. "We're on the right side of the issues. People are frustrated. They need a change."

Late Monday the construction magnate closed his campaign with one last push to build something in Wisconsin, saying, "Together we can win this race, together we will beat Tony Evers. Together we will get a conservative governor in the governor's office, and together we will lead Wisconsin to new heights. Thank you so much!"

Michels is scheduled to vote Tuesday morning at 8:15 in Hartland. He'll then host a private party Tuesday night to watch the election returns come in.

The dueling campaign stops come as 719,429 Wisconsinites already cast absentee ballots ahead of Tuesday.

Polls open Nov. 8 starting at 7 a.m.