WAUSAU, Wis. — The final 48 hours before Wisconsin’s primary election means several candidates and their big-name supporters are traveling around the state, making the final push to get out the vote. One of the big names in Wausau Sunday was former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
Palin went to Zingers & Flingers, a gun, archery, sporting goods, and shooting range on Wausau’s west side. She was greeted by over 200 supporters backing Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Palin had no prepared remarks, but made a brief greeting before signing autographs and taking pictures with the Trump supporters. “I’m really honored that I’ll get to kind of talk to people, with all of the hope to get to meet each one of you, shake your hand and thanks so much for being the great characters in the hard-working state that you all represent.”
Palin put her support behind Trump a few months ago, saying he is a proven, successful leader. “He is the one who, under his leadership, and his success, and his intelligence, has (what it takes) for us. He would allow for us to make the American dream.”
Matt Wasmundt owns Zingers & Flingers. He got the phone call asking about a possible Sarah Palin appearance just a few days ago. “We were approached by the Trump campaign to see if Miss Palin could come out here and we more more than ecstatic.”
Like all campaign events, Wasmundt had very little time to get ready for the Sunday afternoon event. “The hardest part is the short notice. A lot of people were out of town, but we were able to get some of our trainers up here, and we have enough staffing.”
Wasmundt supports Donald Trump for President, in part because of his stand for Second Amendment rights, so he was very interested in hosting a campaign event. “It is a huge reason that they’re invited here, and Miss Palin is coming out here. We are a very big facility. We’re trying to do the best that we can in central Wisconsin here, so when you compare the alternatives at the election front, we’re more than happy to get Palin out here.”
Over two hundred people were in attendance for Sarah Palin’s visit. Unlike some of the Wisconsin events for Donald Trump in the last week, there were no protesters in Wausau Sunday.
by Larry Lee, WSAU
