Wisconsin's Republican candidate for governor keeps his distance from Trump in nail-biter campaign

Democrats got the candidate they wanted for governor in Wisconsin (AP) — Democrats got the matchup they wanted for governor in 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.

It’s a dream matchup for Democrats in a midterm election where Trump’s approval ratings are at record lows. But the race remains close based on the latest public polling. 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.

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. “We think we’re in a great spot,” Tiffany said after a law enforcement roundtable in Rock Springs earlier this month. “We basically see a dead heat race at this 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.

The wave is shaping up to be even bigger for Democrats this year, he said. “The political environment is doing a lot of work for David Crowley,” Zepecki said. “The handwringing is what Democrats do, and I’m fine with nervous energy motivating people to run through the tape on Nov.

3.” 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.

In an interview with WMTV on Tuesday, Tiffany sidestepped a question about whether he approved of Trump’s performance. “The president is doing what he believes is best for the United States of America,” Tiffany said. “What I’m focused on is being the best governor possible in Wisconsin.” Tiffany has also been critical of arti…