The momentum of the GOP primaries seems to be shifting. After dominating so far in the electoral race, Republican front-runner Donald Trump has seen his ratings drop amid a number of gaffes last week, most notably his controversial statements (and immediate counter-statements) regarding abortion.
With Wisconsin looking like it would be a landslide for rival Ted Cruz, and his ratings among female voters dropping to new lows, it seems like this might very well be the beginning of the end for Donald Trump's pursuit of the presidency. As far as the Trump campaign is concerned, it seems like Trump's camp has begun to initiate damage control.
In a political rally at the Milwaukee Theater Monday night, Donald Trump's usual aggressive, brazen rhetoric was quite subdued. Indeed, with Wisconsin politicians opting to support his rival, Ted Cruz, instead, Trump seemed a bit out of character.
For one, Trump's wife, Melania, took the stage in what seems like an attempt to sway female voters back to her husband's cause. Reading a prepared speech, the former model addressed the people in the theater.
"I'm very proud of him," she said. "He is a hard worker, he's kind, he has a great heart, he's tough, he's smart, he's a great communicator, he's a great negotiator, he's telling the truth, he's a great leader, he's fair."
Listing a series of flattering adjectives to describe her husband was not the only issue brought up by Melania. She also addressed and defended her husband's strong rhetoric, which has made enemies out of numerous politicians and other groups.
"As you may know by now, when you attack him, he will punch back ten times harder," she added. "No matter who you are, a man or a woman, he treats everyone equal."
Melania's speech was followed by yet another endorsement from former Miss Wisconsin Melissa Young, who lauded the candidate for attempting to make America into a "country that is safe."
Meanwhile, just 16 miles away, Cruz was licking his chops, enjoying the support of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who was quickly eliminated out of the GOP race last year. Together with Walker, Cruz also loved the endorsements of several notable Wisconsin personalities.
Despite his easing stance among female voters, however, Trump has made no efforts in reaching out to the Wisconsin governor. In an interview last Tuesday, Trump even insulted Walker, referencing how quick he was eliminated in the GOP race.
"Your governor came out, he was expected to win, and we sent him packing like a little boy," he said.
However, as much as Walker could very well end up as fodder for Trump's insults, the governor is actually extremely popular among the people of the state, with a very impressive 80 percent approval rating. Thus, by continually attacking Walker, Trump might very well end up alienating the voters in Wisconsin even more.
Brandon Scholz, a longtime Republican strategist and lobbyist in the state, believes that Trump's strategy in the state so far is a gross miscalculation, and is backfiring on the candidate.
"Maybe, in his mind and some others, this is a political tactic, that they can get people engaged and thinking that there's a lot of anti-Walker Republicans, which there aren't - he's got an 80 percent approval rating - then, maybe, Trump can, as he does in other places, get his earned media that way. But it's backfired, it's backfired terribly," Scholz said.
