Dems plan to quickly pivot to general election to avoid being caught flat-footed in Wisconsin governor's race

MADISON - Seeking to minimize GOP Gov. Scott Walker's ability to take advantage of the jam-packed Democratic primary, strategists have devised a plan to quickly pivot from the primary to the general election.

The winner of the Aug. 14 primary is expected to be depleted of campaign cash by then — giving Walker and his allies an opportunity to fill the airwaves with ads defining the Democratic nominee.

To make sure the Democratic nominee — whoever it is — has at least some cash to respond, state and national Democrats are quietly building a network of donors and a post-primary game plan. The effort is being funded in part by the Democratic Governors Association and is being overseen by Tom Russell, the 2016 campaign manager for former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold.

“I assume you’re going to see a full soup-to-nuts campaign out of Tom Russell’s work,” said one Democratic strategist familiar with the outlines of the plan.

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Russell confirmed he had a contract with the Democratic Governors Association but otherwise declined to talk about the effort.

The Democratic plan is being put together as Walker develops a strategy to simultaneously excite his base and reach out to independent voters. Walker has raised concerns about a “blue wave” this fall and understands the importance of appealing to swing voters while also making sure the Republican base is enthused, according to people familiar with his campaign plans.

Many large-dollar Democratic donors are sitting out the primary and waiting to see who emerges in August. Russell is seeking pledges from some of those donors so that money is readily available to the nominee. He’s also expected to develop plans to quickly raise money online after the primary from those who give in small amounts.

Russell’s plans are also aimed at guiding the nominee on messaging and connecting with voters, according to those who know about the plans.

The effort is meant to avoid the situation former Gov. Tommy Thompson found himself in in 2012 after he won a four-way Republican primary for U.S. senator. In the weeks that followed, Democrat Tammy Baldwin barraged the airwaves with anti-Thompson ads, helping her win the seat that fall.

“We are making sure that mistake is not made,” one Democratic strategist said. “We’re going to be ready for a general election no matter who our nominee is.”

A half dozen Democrats agreed to describe the post-primary plan on the condition that they not be named. The program got positive reviews, with some Democrats greeting it enthusiastically and others viewing it tepidly because of concerns that it could make it easier for donors to stay on the sidelines during the primary.

Some said Russell will need to be careful with his approach to avoid alienating the primary winner’s staff by making it appear a new team is taking over for the final phase of the campaign. Supporters said that wouldn’t happen because Russell’s efforts are aimed at supplementing — not supplanting — the primary winner’s plans.

Walker recently began running his first TV ads — one on readying the workforce, the other on fighting the opioid crisis — but the Democratic candidates aren’t expected to be able to afford ads until just before the primary.

The Democrats will hold their convention June 1 in Oshkosh — the same day paperwork is due to get on the ballot. Candidates for governor who have shown the party a week before that that they have enough signatures to get on the ballot will get a speaking slot.

Seeking the Democratic nomination are liberal talk radio host Mike Crute; state Schools Superintendent Tony Evers; former state Democratic Party Chairman Matt Flynn; Milwaukee businessman Andy Gronik; liberal activist Mike McCabe; firefighters union chief Mahlon Mitchell; former state Rep. Kelda Roys of Madison; Madison Mayor Paul Soglin; state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout of Alma; and state Rep. Dana Wachs of Eau Claire.