Trump campaign kicks off Wisconsin bus tour, town hall in Waukesha Wednesday

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Six weeks out from Election Day, Wisconsin continues to see a flood of activity, with surrogates for the Trump campaign kicking off a bus tour.

On Monday, surrogates for the former President Donald Trump visited western Wisconsin to begin a three-day bus tour.

Trump is not listed to join the tour, but many other prominent Republicans are, including state GOP chairman Brian Schimming, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffiany, Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas, U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde and former Gov. Tommy Thompson among others.

"The number two issues for the American people are the economy and the border; they recognize that this administration has destroyed them both," said Nehls, during a stop in Eau Claire.

After visiting the western half of the state, the bus will travel to the Green Bay area on Tuesday. The final stop includes a town hall in Waukesha Wednesday evening featuring former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump.

The series of events comes as new CBS polling shows a very tight presidential race. Vice President Kamala Harris has a slight edge, 51% to 49%, across battleground states, over Trump, according to CBS YouGov poll.

Last month, the race was tied 50%.

In response to the bus tour, Democrats said it underscores the importance of Wisconsin.

"We have no illusions this is a toss-up state," said Ben Wikler, chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. "Democrats have an extraordinary ground game operation that is unmatched by the Republican Party here and anywhere else. The GOP is scrambling to catch up."

Former President Trump will return to Wisconsin on Saturday to hold a rally in Prairie Du Chien. It comes on the heels of Harris rallying supporters in the liberal stronghold of Madison on Friday.

Over the weekend, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro stumped in south central Wisconsin for U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin. The pair talked to supporters in Richland and Lafayette counties on Saturday, with control of the Senate up for grabs this fall.

"I'm here in Wisconsin because if we're going to secure, protect, expand our freedoms in this country in this next election," Shapiro said, "It's going to come down to states like mine, Pennsylvania, Michigan. And of course, Wisconsin."