“I think the voters of the district will end up deciding,” he said. “For me, having talked to both of the candidates, having our fellow senators talk to both of the candidates, it was close but we decided that Pat would offer the best contrast to Howard Marklein.”

One Democratic operative, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that party leaders were concerned that Wittwer was a loose cannon unwilling to do what is necessary to win the race.

Sen. Kathleen VInehout, D-Alma, who represents a district that borders the 17th and is the only state senator to endorse Wittwer, said she believes the push from party operatives represents the same strategy that worked against her bid for governor in the 2012 recall as well as her plans to run for governor this year. In the 2012 recall primary, party officials worked behind-the-scenes to get Tom Barrett to enter the race. And last year Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair Mike Tate and others actively worked to promote the candidacy of Mary Burke in the hopes of preventing other Democratic candidates from entering the race.