Republicans make final push to win Wisconsin
Updated: 9:15 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2020
PEWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Trump campaign is looking for a win in the Badger State. At the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee election night, Nov. 3, the general consensus from Republicans is they need to put up a big number and they think they can.
The 50 or so people at the hotel have gotten more and more excited throughout the night.
The Trump campaign says they think he will win Wisconsin because of their ground game.
Republicans ran a very different campaign here from Democrats, focused much more heavily on grassroots efforts, door knocking, and calling potential voters.
Fifth Congressional District winner Scott Fitzgerald and other local party leaders say they think Trump can build up a big lead based on heavy in-person turnout on Election Day.
Congressman Bryan Steil says those grassroots efforts, and visits from Pres. Trump, built up enthusiasm that pushed voters to the polls.
"You saw it last night in Kenosha. We saw it here in Waukesha. We saw it in Green Bay and La Crosse. We have been getting the job done. And it’s the people here in this room that have done that work. I want to say thank you for those here in this room tonight," Congressman Bryan Steil said.
While Republicans are confident they think the election will be close and hope their lead can hold up to the votes counted in Milwaukee through Wednesday morning.
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Published: 3:21 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2020
PEWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) --- Republicans are making a final push to win votes before polls close Tuesday, Nov. 3.
In a few hours, the Trump campaign their election night watch party at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee.
Until polls close at 8 p.m., the Trump campaign is trying to close out the race by reaching more voters.
Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Andrew Hitt says staff are still out calling potential voters and knocking on doors trying to get people to the polls across the state.
The Trump campaign is confident that their ground game over the course of the race will allow the president to carry the state yet again.
They like what they see so far with lines of up to two hours in northern rural areas of the state. With so many voters in central Wisconsin, election officials had to print additional ballots.
“We’re certainly seeing what we expected, which is a lot of our voters coming out to the polls on election day," Hitt said. "But I think as we look across the state it’s really, we’re seeing longer lines in portions of the state that lean Republican, we’re seeing longer lines, or no lines in areas or wards that lean Democratic. So I think some exciting, encouraging news.”
The watch party begins at the Ingleside Hotel one hour before polls close at 7 p.m.