ROCK SPRINGS, Wis. (AP) — Democrats got the matchup they wanted for governor in Wisconsin.
asserted
they → get → Wisconsin
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley defeated a democratic socialist in the primary and faces one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Washington.
asserted
Crowley → defeat → Washington
It’s a dream matchup for Democrats in a midterm election where Trump’s approval ratings are at record lows.
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ratings → ’ → lows
But the race remains close based on the latest public polling.
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race → remain → polling
Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who survived a small plane crash while campaigning, distanced himself from some of Trump’s most unpopular policies while tapping three billionaire megadonors to hammer Crowley as weak on crime and illegal immigration.
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who → survive → crime
The attacks and Tiffany’s financial advantage, along with Wisconsin’s long history as a state narrowly divided between Republicans and Democrats, is helping to keep the campaign close in a midterm election in which Democrats are hoping to notch big wins nationwide.
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Democrats → divide → wins
“We think we’re in a great spot,” Tiffany said after a law enforcement roundtable in Rock Springs earlier this month.
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Tiffany → think → Springs
“We basically see a dead heat race at this point.”
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We → see → point
Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki said Crowley is doing better than people think — noting that in 2018, the last midterm when Trump was in office, Democrats defeated a two-term Republican incumbent governor and reelected U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin by double digits.
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Democrats → say → digits
The wave is shaping up to be even bigger for Democrats this year, he said.
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he → shape → Democrats
“The political environment is doing a lot of work for David Crowley,” Zepecki said.
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Zepecki → do → Crowley
“The handwringing is what Democrats do, and I’m fine with nervous energy motivating people to run through the tape on Nov. 3.”
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energy → do → Nov.
Tiffany breaks with Trump on Iran and data centers
Tiffany has been a longtime ally of Trump but in recent months has taken steps to distance himself from the unpopular Republican president.
Tiffany voted five times against resolutions in the U.S. House that would’ve prohibited Trump from continuing military activities in Iran without congressional approval, but in May he said it was time to “wrap up” the war.
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it → break → war
In an interview with WMTV on Tuesday, Tiffany sidestepped a question about whether he approved of Trump’s performance.
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he → sidestep → performance
“The president is doing what he believes is best for the United States of America,” Tiffany said.
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Tiffany → do → America
“What I’m focused on is being the best governor possible in Wisconsin.”
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focused → focus → Wisconsin
Tiffany has also been critical of artificial intelligence data centers, breaking with Trump, who has said communities that don’t embrace them will be “backwards and poor.”
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that → break → them
Instead, Tiffany has tried to paint Crowley as an advocate for building data centers, referring to him as “Data Center David Crowley.”
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Tiffany → try → Crowley
Crowley has said his comments on AI data centers were taken out of context.
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comments → say → context
He has said local communities must have veto authority, while also calling data centers a part of the modern economy that could bring significant economic benefits to the state.
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that → say → state
Tiffany and his supporters have tried to paint Crowley as weak on crime, hitting him for a Milwaukee County program that provides computer tablets to inmates that some used to contact and harass victims and witnesses.
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some → try → victims
Crowley last week suspended messaging features on the tablets after criticism from Tiffany.
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Crowley → suspend → Tiffany
Crowley targets Tiffany’s ties to Trump
Crowley and his backers have tried to hammer Tiffany on his loyalty to Trump, his past support for the war in Iran, high tariffs and soaring gas prices.
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Crowley → target → Iran
Crowley this month launched an ad accusing Tiffany of pledging his loyalty to Trump and his billionaire backers.
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Crowley → launch → Trump
Tiffany raised more than $26 million during the most recent two-month reporting period, with $24 million-plus coming from just three people.
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million → raise → people
“These billionaires know that if they buy Congressman Tom Tiffany this election, he will sell Wisconsin out to them,” Crowley told supporters last week.
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Crowley → know → supporters
Tiffany said he thinks Crowley’s attacks linking him and Trump aren’t landing.
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attacks → say → him
“People of Wisconsin are really savvy voters,” Tiffany said.
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Tiffany → say → Wisconsin
“They’re like, ‘We’re not voting for president in this election.
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We → ’re → election
We’re voting for the governor.’
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We → vote → governor
Liberal activist Scot Ross said Crowley and his supporters have to do more to remind voters about Tiffany’s ties to Trump given voter anger over high gas prices, the Iran war and inflation.
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Crowley → say → prices
“The number one thing in politics is anger wanes,” Ross said.
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Ross → wan → politics
“In campaigns, you need to be reminded why you’re angry.
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you → need → campaigns
And you’re angry because of what Tom Tiffany, Trump and Republicans have done.”
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Tiffany → ’re → what
Tiffany outspends Crowley
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Tiffany → outspend → Crowley
A Marquette University Law School poll of 692 likely voters conducted Sept. 16-23 showed the governor’s race to be about even.
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race → conduct → voters
Tiffany and his backers have outspent Crowley and his supporters $53 million to roughly $35 million, according to AdImpact, which tracks political advertising.
uncertain
which → outspent → advertising
“We think that we have momentum on our side at this point,” Tiffany said.
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Tiffany → think → point
“I think David Crowley is struggling to get his message out.”
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Crowley → think → message
Republican strategist Ben Voelkel said given the “challenging national environment,” he thinks Tiffany is running a strong campaign aided by the financial advantage.
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Tiffany → say → advantage
…and 22 more, not listed.
The Aporia
