High-Profile Political Figures Visit State To Campaign For Gubernatorial Candidates

Michelle Obama Will Appear In Milwaukee, While Christie Appears In Western Wisconsin Town Of Hudson

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First lady Michelle Obama, left, and Gov. Chris Christie. Photos: USDA/Gage Skidmore (CC-BY-NC-SA).

First lady Michelle Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are both due to make appearances in Wisconsin on Monday to campaign on behalf of candidates in the governor’s race.

The first lady will join Democratic candidate Mary Burke at an afternoon rally in Milwaukee. Carroll University political science professor Lilly Goren said that Michelle Obama’s approval ratings are relatively high, especially when compared with the president’s.

“Michelle Obama is pretty good at giving some speeches that connect with people, generally speaking,” said Goren.

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University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political scientist Joe Heim said that the first lady is not likely to draw much criticism from the men who lead the Republican Party in Wisconsin.

“Attacking women is a little more risky for a male,” said Heim. “It tends to look like you’re bullying them.”

Christie will be making a stop in Hudson on behalf of Gov. Scott Walker. Heim said Christie may help Walker appear more moderate.

“It suggests he’s not one of the extreme Republicans. He’s not a tea party person,” he said.

Wisconsin Democrats have attacked Christie for his administration’s involvement in the New Jersey “bridgegatecontroversy, in which top officials orchestrated traffic problems in the city of Fort Lee, possibly as an act of retribution against its mayor. Goren noted that given the ongoing clamor surrounding bridgegate and Wisconsin’s recent “John Doe” investigations, political scandals may continue to be an issue for both Christie and Walker should either man run for president in two years.

Ultimately, neither Goren nor Heim think that either visit will influence swing voters in the state.