Tim Kaine Tries To Close Deal For Democrats In Wisconsin

Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine used a campaign swing through Wisconsin on Sunday to get out the vote. But while in Milwaukee, he also praised the mother of a local man who was killed two years ago by a police officer.

Kaine stopped at Lamb of God Missionary Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American place of worship in Milwaukee. Another guest there was Maria Hamilton, mother of Dontre Hamilton, an African-American man shot by a white officer in 2014 during an altercation. Maria Hamilton now helps other mothers who have lost children to gunfire, including officer-involved shootings.

Kaine praised her for her efforts.

“Taking a painful situation of the deepest pain and turning it into something that might help somebody else along the way. Very, very hard to do, and you earn our admiration every day by what you do,” Kaine said.

Republican leaders, speaking at a Saturday rally in Mukwonago, defended gun owners’ rights and mentioned several law enforcement officers who have been recently shot to death, including one near Ladysmith and two in Iowa.

But at Lamb of God Missionary Baptist, member Norah Summerville said she already voted for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Kaine. She said GOP presidential contender Donald Trump is too critical of people.

“For one thing, how you can have people represent you, who get on the news and say such horrible things about their constituents?” Summerville asked. “How can you talk about people like that, the way you have negatively, and then expect them to vote for you? How can you represent us? You can’t.”

Officials with the Wisconsin Republican Party said Kaine and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Russ Feingold continue to stand up for Clinton even though she, “lied to the American people” and “endangered national security” with her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state.