From buses to billboards: Political ads take over Milwaukee
The Historic Third Ward Association hopes to "reach across the ale" with an ad campaign of their own
The Historic Third Ward Association hopes to "reach across the ale" with an ad campaign of their own
The Historic Third Ward Association hopes to "reach across the ale" with an ad campaign of their own
From buses to billboards, political advertisements are taking over Milwaukee. The ad overload comes from both sides of the aisle.
Democrats and Republicans have billboards up all across the city.
"We've got a ton of billboards. Anybody driving in or around the city of Milwaukee will see those. We've got digital ads, we've got TV. We're blanketing radio," Sam Cornale, executive director for the Democratic National Committee said.
The DNC paid to wrap nearly 60 Milwaukee County buses with signs advocating for President Joe Biden.
"What you're seeing on the buses is our attempt to meet voters where they are on the street corners and say 'This is the choice that you have to start wrapping your head around, and we're going to work to earn your vote,'" Cornale said.
"Is it safe to say millions will be spent next week during the RNC on ad campaigns by the DNC?" WISN 12 News reporter Kendall Keys asked Cornale.
"I think it is safe to say that. Not just because the GOP convention is in Wisconsin, but because it is going to be a very, very close and critically important state," Cornale said.
It's not just the campaigns. In the Third Ward, there are posters drafting the idea of bringing people together in Wisconsin with what else — beer.
"There's plenty of seriousness going on a few blocks away. We're going to have fun with this," Jim Plaisted, executive director for the Historic Third Ward Association said.
Plaisted said Milwaukee advertising firm Hanson Dodge approached them with the idea.
"Hanson Dodge, who's been here a long time, approached us a couple of months ago about they wanted to have some fun with the RNC and bringing people together and what better thing to bring people together in Milwaukee but over beer," Plaisted said.
The posters, popping up across the Third Ward, suggest reaching across the "ale" for "beer partisanship."
"We're treating it as a normal week of summer fun in the Third Ward. But just bringing in the RNC as well. And this event is a little kitschy way to have some fun with it," Plaisted said.
Wednesday, July 17 at the Third Ward Beer Garden, there will be a free limited-edition tapping of Explorium Brewpub's “Reach Across the Ale” beer, card games, live music, and local breweries on tap.
"The goal is to have fun and also just the message that, you know, there's a lot of contention about the security zone and business from the delegates or business or people not coming downtown. Our message is: we're open," Plaisted said.