Good to go.
Well, let's start with, give me your
reaction when the Rodriguez News
broke about the campaign donation
double cutting.
How do you think that's going to
impact the race at this point with
voters?
I think voters are
feeling pretty betrayed as
I would be, and frustrated.
Our campaign has always focused on
accountability, transparency,
and honesty.
That's how I want to lead
as well.
I hope that
folks will continue to engage in
the campaign and know that
there are candidates and elected
officials. Who hold themselves
to the highest standards of
integrity when it comes to
especially campaign finance.
I know when we checked in before,
there were a lot of people early on
who made up their minds, but a lot
people were very undecided, all the
polling indicated that.
How much has that group of undecides
shrunk in your opinion, and who's
left to win at this point in the
last month?
You know, I think that there are
many voters who we're
going to see who was left
in the field.
I think the percentages of
undecided voters, I can't speak
to them right now, we know that
no matter what zip code you're in
or where you're at,
we want to have a conversation and
make sure that we make our case.
Our vision for permanent
affordability is one that will
make your life easier.
There's been a narrative developing,
and I'm sure the media were as
guilty as anyone, of progressives
versus centrists.
Do you think that's a fair way to
group candidates in this race?
I think people are
looking at policy agendas
and how folks
are able to build a coalition
and making sure that,
like ours, that's a
grassroots and community-powered
campaign.
It's resonating when you're hearing
from your neighbors or a different
community member, not just from the
campaign, about why you're
supporting Hong for Governor.
Tom Tiffany's had the field to
himself for quite a while to run
positive ads portraying himself as
the guy at the end of the bar, or
your neighbor down the road.
Is that creating too much of a
buffer for him in the eyes of voters
that may have never heard or don't
know him that well, and what's it
going to take to put
his record out there from the
Democratic point of view when the
primary is over?
Tom Tiffany has been the
front-runner presumptive nominee for
months. To still be doing intro
ads is a little bit embarrassing.
I think to have that much money to
still try to introduce yourself to
voters, portray yourself as an
everyday guy when you are someone
who is a pedophile protector,
who voted to gut health care and
take food away from kids and support
a national abortion ban.
Wisconsin voters are smarter than
that. They want someone who will
lead with a steady hand and focus
on delivering.
To make lives easier and more
affordable for all Wisconsinites.
Now that we've gotten past the
Fourth of July, are you feeling
momentum change?
I mean, that was a pretty packed
room here in Ozaukee County.
I know this is one of those kind of
bellwether counties that Democrats
have been looking at growing some of
that suburban realignment.
What's it mean to you to come into a
room like this and have standing
room only in the back?
It's exciting that Democrats here
in Ozaukee County are engaged
and have been organizing.
They're doing the work to make sure
we've got great candidates running
as Democrats up and down
the ballot.
I'm grateful that they took time
out of their day to hear
our remarks and our plan.
I think that seeing this
enthusiasm, I hope folks,
I know our campaign and our
volunteers have worked hard to earn
this enthusiasm and we're going to
work even harder to earn their votes
in August and in November.
Is that something that you're seeing
everywhere? I mean, is Ozaukee
County any different than other
counties that we haven't followed
you with?
We were excited to see
over 100 people in
Dunn County when we had an
event, kind of last-minute too,
in Menominee.
We had a great event at Casey's
Kitchen. We want to uplift our small
businesses.
When we were in Manitowoc, over
80-some people there, and
our first round of counter
protesters.
I think that kind of means maybe
we're making it.
It's interesting that people look at
primaries and they think only the
die-hard, traditional Democrats
are gonna come out for a primary in
August, but do you feel like you're
bringing in people who may not have
voted in primaries in the past that
are ready to have their voices
heard now?
Absolutely.
It's imperative that we grow a
coalition and the electorate.
For Democrats to win power
and maintain power,
we have to make sure that our
coalition is multi-generational,
multi-faith and
with representing zip codes from all
across the state.
It's exciting to hear folks
have their plan to vote and it's
their first time to vote.
We've got fundraising numbers coming
in. How should people that don't
like dig into the details, what can
they take away?
What advice would you give them to
be the best barometer of what any of
those numbers mean?
How many people have donated
to a campaign?
What is the average donation?
And look at how much
was raised through
smaller individual donations
and maybe versus one
individual that gave the
maximum $20,000.
We're looking forward to showing
that we are the people-powered
grassroots campaign.
And this is going to be the year of
the many and not just the money.
Thanks so much for your time.
We appreciate it.
Good to see you again.
Good to see you too.