If Donald Trump is worried about finishing second in Wisconsin’s presidential primary, he’s refusing to let his supporters catch on.
The Republican front-runner arrived in the Badger State Monday for a triple-hitter, with a campaign rally every few hours, and promised his supporters there would be “a lot of celebrating” Tuesday night, after Wisconsin voters cast their ballots.
“I have a feeling we’re going to have a very big day tomorrow, folks,” Trump told the crowd at his second rally in Superior, Wis. “I have a feeling it’s going to be a wonderful day.”
But the billionaire’s characteristic confidence comes on the heels of his two toughest weeks since voting began and widespread skepticism about his chances of pulling off a victory in Tuesday’s nominating contest.
Trump faced an onslaught of criticism early last week for refusing to condemn the actions of his campaign manager, who was charged with battering a female reporter. Things got worse for the leading GOP candidate when MSNBC’s Chris Matthews asked him about abortion, during a televised town hall, and Trump recommended that women receiving the procedure, if it were banned, should face “some form of punishment.”
“If Donald Trump doesn’t win the Republican nomination, he’s going to look back at last week and and frankly, he’s not going to have anyone to blame but himself,” veteran GOP strategist Ford O’Connell told the Washington Examiner.
While projecting confidence on Monday, Trump came out swinging hard at Ted Cruz, who poses the biggest threat to him in Wisconsin.
The Texas senator, who leads Trump 39 to 35 percent in the final RCP polling average of Wisconsin Republicans, was quick to criticize Trump’s abortion gaffe last week, saying it was another indication that he “hasn’t seriously thought through the issues.” Cruz also deployed his wife and ex-White House hopeful Carly Fiorina to campaign in Wisconsin in the hopes they might appeal to female voters who have been turned off by Trump.
“The lying, the deception, the viciousness. I’ve met people that are much tougher than Ted, but I’ve never met anybody that lies like him,” Trump fired back on Monday.
“He’s trying to stave off the bleeding of the last couple of weeks and literally do everything possible to keep the enthusiasm going on his side,” O’Connell said.
By blending his confidence with criticism of Cruz, Trump appeared to tailor his final pitch in Wisconsin to the independent and undecided voters who have considered him all along and could ultimately decide the outcome of Tuesday’s election.
“The polls came out and we’re essentially even,” Trump said of himself and Cruz on Monday.
“But I’m feeling it,” he added.
Even if Trump loses Wisconsin, the slew of Northeastern states to follow this month could be his saving grace. His home state of New York is set to vote on April 19, and the month will end with five more primaries scattered throughout the East Coast on April 26.
Nevertheless, a big loss for Trump in Tuesday’s primary feeds into the Cruz campaign’s narrative that the first-term senator is the only candidate who can consistently defeat Trump. It also places another roadblock in the way of Trump’s path to the Republican nomination and could affect undecided voters in states to follow.
“Ultimately, if it were up to Trump, New York can’t come fast enough,” O’Connell said.
Trump will host his third and final rally before the Wisconsin primary Monday night.
