(Chris Parker, Headline USA) Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., enjoyed a surge in polls on Thursday in his race against Democrat rival Mandela Barnes. Johnson celebrated the encouraging numbers – and National Drink a Beer Day – by downing a large brewski in mere seconds.
The Citizen Free Press credited him by saying the senator “chugs beer like a boss.” He didn’t seem to hesitate once in the 9-second video.
Johnson pulled ahead of Barnes in the latest poll numbers, after he spent months trailing. Real Clear Politics has him just over 2 points ahead, while an AARP poll shows the senator leading by 5 points.
Republican Tim Michels also leads incumbent Democrat Tony Evers for the Wisconsin governor’s race. The polls show Johnson is regarded as the most favorable candidate.
According to the AARP poll, Wisconsin voters hold a more favorable view of Donald Trump than Joe Biden with Trump holding a 48% approval rating to Biden’s 45%.
Crime, taxes and inflation have been top concerns among Wisconsin voters. Republicans have gained advantages on each of these issues as Democrats continue to support defunding the police, tax increases (along with increases in government spending), and burdensome regulations that continue to strain supply chains.
There is also a growing interest in education, which has been a hotly contested topic between the Democrat governor and Republican legislators. Evers has called for increased spending in the name of COVID, while Republicans have blamed his COVID restrictions for harming children.
Johnson has also publicly criticized government responses to COVID. He remains a skeptic of the vaccine, after hosting a panel with renowned doctors that included data from the CDC and FDA. He believes that no one should be forced or even pressured into receiving the vaccine.
Wisconsin is considered a key midterm state in 2022 and, overall, Republicans appear to have the advantage. However, a slew of celebrities (most of whom live in other states) are hosting fundraisers to help finance Democrat candidates in the state.
