Wisconsin Democrats rally at yearly convention with 10 candidates for governor

OSHKOSH, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Wisconsin Democratic Party is wrapping up their yearly democratic convention. The party is looking to keep Tammy Baldwin as a U.S. Senator and find a candidate to beat Scott Walker.

There was a lot of energy at the Oshkosh Convention Center from the 1,300 people in attendance excited for a blue wave. Democratic leaders say the goal of their convention was to continue growing grassroots enthusiasm.

"We feel it. When we're driving around the state of Wisconsin we feel the energy. The blue wave that is coming,” said State Democratic Party Chair Martha Lanning.

The party has ten democratic candidates for Governor set to appear on the primary ballot in August. A field so large the party had to cut the microphone on candidates after five minutes. Lanning says they are proud of the large field, "We have a lot of people that feel that Governor Walker is taking us in the wrong direction, and they all feel that they have good ideas about what they could be doing differently.”

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin is up for re-election in November. She says Republicans have spent more money against her than any other Democratic incumbent in the United States.

State lawmakers say there's an opportunity to flip the Wisconsin State Assembly. Congresswoman Gwen Moore says control of state government is a bigger concern than federal, "They're trying to silence us with gerrymandering and voter suppression, but it is not going to work. Because I'm telling you we are not confused about what our problems are.”

State Republican leaders rallied their base ahead of the Democrats’ convention. Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch spoke at the brand new Republican Field Office in Oshkosh where she said the large pool of gubernatorial candidates will only hurt Democrats, “There's no way unless they unify around one candidate by the end of their dozen or so speeches tonight that they are going to have an early galvanized base because they're just too fractured. There are too many factions."

The last day of the Democratic convention is Saturday. The primary election is August 14.