Wisconsin Senate Democrat candidate Mandela Barnes on Thursday whined about “unprecedented” opposition to his radical policies, such as defunding police, pushing Critical Race Theory, and using global warming as a cudgel to reorient the economy.
In an interview with the New York Times, Barnes said Republican Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), have been effective in defining his policies as too radical for Wisconsin.
“There were weeks where we would get outspent two-to-one on TV,” Barnes said about Johnson and the NRSC’s attack ads. “There has been an unprecedented amount of negative spin against me.”
The latest poll shows Johnson crushing Barnes by five points in the Wisconsin Senate race. Johnson’s lead is a ten to seven point swing in the race since August. The TV ads have been pounding the airwaves for two months, an early investment by Scott and the NRSC.
When questioned about his radical record, Barnes refused to acknowledge he has pushed to defund police and let criminals out of jail early on parole.
“Things haven’t changed, right? But it’s what we talk about,” he claimed. “My positions are the same and where I stand on those issues is the exact same.”
In the past, Barnes has stated he “absolutely” wants to release half of Wisconsin’s inmate population. As Lt. Gov., Barnes has allowed at least 884 convicted criminals back onto the streets by releasing them on parole, according to Wisconsin Right Now.
Barnes has also pushed for defunding “over-bloated” police departments and allowing felons to retain the right to vote. He also believes police do not prevent crimes.
Barnes’ supporters argue the Republicans’ success at highlighting Barnes’s policies is simply “racist.”
Democratic candidate for U.S. senate in Wisconsin Mandela Barnes speaks to the press during a campaign rally at the Washington Park Senior Center on September 24, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Barnes currently serves as the state’s lieutenant governor. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
“To make Mandela and Black folks endure the relentless racist attacks, then not hit back on treason, corruption and lies, is unfortunate,” State Rep. Francesca Hong told the Times.
Another supporter of Barnes, Tom Nelson, Outagamie County executive, said Barnes is getting crushed so badly that “the campaign needs to fire its media consultant.”
“They’re losing,” he added.
Follow Wendell Husebø on Twitter @WendellHusebø. He is the author of Politics of Slave Morality.
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