Behind in the polls, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson steps up criticism of Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes

WAUWATOSA - Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson tore into his Democratic rival Sunday, charging that Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes is "hiding from the press, he's hiding from Wisconsin."

"He wants to run basically a Joe Biden campaign. If he could get away with it he'd hide in his basement," Johnson said at the 53rd Chicken Burn event, a backyard political gathering that brings together grassroots conservatives.

Trailing Barnes by 7 points in the latest Marquette University Law School Poll, Johnson sought to define his opponent. The poll showed around 4 in 10 registered Wisconsin voters hadn't heard enough of Barnes to offer an opinion.

Johnson accused Barnes of "hiding his radical leftist positions."

"Sure seems when you hold up a T shirt says 'Abolish ICE,' you want to abolish ICE," Johnson said, referring to a photo Barnes tweeted.

Barnes has said he is not part of the abolish ICE movement and supports comprehensive immigration reform.

"It sure seems like when you're supported by the groups that support the defund police movement, that you want to defund police," Johnson added.

While Barnes has received endorsements from five groups that have called for defunding police he does not favor such a policy. "I don't support defunding the police," Barnes first told the Wall Street Journal in January.

Johnson was also critical of year-old comments Barnes made on the founding of the country in which he was referring to slavery and said: "Things were terrible. The founding of this nation? Awful.

"You know, but we are here now and we should commit ourselves to doing everything we can do to repair the harm because it still exists today," Barnes said.

Johnson said of the remarks: "Where did he develop these grievances? This radical leftism, this radical Marxism, this radical socialism, where do you develop this? I don't understand that."

Lauren Chou, a Barnes campaign spokeswoman, was critical of Johnson's policies.

“Ron Johnson will say anything to distract from his record of enriching himself and his wealthy donors at the expense of working people. Now he’s threatening Social Security and Medicare — benefits Wisconsinites have paid into all their lives. He’s an out of touch, multi-millionaire politician who is wrong for Wisconsin.”

Michels sticks to stump speech

While Johnson defended his record, including pushing back that he wants to hurt Social Security and Medicare, Republican governor candidate Tim Michels stuck to his standard stump speech.

Michels chided Democratic Gov. Tony Evers for "weak leadership" and "coddling criminals."

Michels vowed to "transform Wisconsin for decades to come," as he called for "massive tax reform," universal school choice and respect for policing.

"They're going to know I back the blue and and these 'catch and release' DA's, I'm going to fire them," he said.

He also praised the rivals he vanquished in the Republican primary earlier this month. Among those to attend the event was Scott Neitzel, who was campaign chairman for former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who finished second in the primary.

"I'm on the team and we want to make sure of getting all of our Republicans elected," Neitzel told the Journal Sentinel. He added that Kleefisch has "done everything for Republicans up and down the ticket for 12 years" and said he doesn't expect that "to be any different" this year.

Kayla Anderson, an Evers spokeswoman, said that Michels "is pushing his divisive agenda on our state, which includes banning abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest and cutting millions from public schools," adding that Evers "is doing the right thing for Wisconsin."

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson gave a short address and urged Republicans to "change the direction of the country and the state."

Conservative activists sounded enthused about their prospects for the fall, but they're not taking anything for granted.

"I think people are starting to pay attention and use their logic," said Norm Reynolds, a an engineer from Muskego. "Things don't make sense to them."

Donna Flood, a retired office worker from West Allis, supported state Rep. Tim Ramthun in the primary but now backs Michels so that the state "can get Evers out of there."

"I've had it up to here," she said.

Bob Dohnal, who has hosted the event every year, was delighted to see a strong turnout. This was the first Chicken Burn to be held since the death of his wife of 52 years, Jean Dohnal.

He is eager for the fall campaign to heat up.

"This is not going to be a runaway," he said. "We have to work our butts off."

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson steps up criticism of Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes