Wisconsin GOP chairman says state has gone from 'fly-over country' to 'fly-in country'

Wisconsin GOP Chairman Brian Schimming on Monday said his home state has become "fly-in country'" rather than "fly-over country," because its status as a swing state means presidential contenders are visiting to campaign this year. 

Former President Donald Trump is expected to visit the state on Wednesday, which is his day off from a trial in New York. He is also expected to visit Michigan, which is another crucial swing state. President Joe Biden visited Wisconsin earlier this month, marking his third visit to the state in 2024. 

"We'll have [Trump] back here in Waukesha in the Milwaukee area on Wednesday, in a state John, I remember when they used to call Wisconsin fly-over country," Schimming said on the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show. "It's fly-in country' now." 

The comment is a reference to states in the middle of the country being considered "fly-over country" because those travelling from one coast to the other would simply fly over the area.

Polls often have the two candidates neck-and-neck in swing states, but Trump is usually just barely in the lead. Schimming claimed part of the reason Trump is leading Biden in Wisconsin is because voters recognize that Biden is not "Scranton Joe" or the candidate that people thought Biden was four years ago. 

"The reason Scranton Joe has to keep going back to Scranton, is because people have found out he's not Scranton Joe," Schimming said. "Well, you know what, he's not Milwaukee Joe either, or Green Bay Joe or Wausau Joe. This false impression he left four years ago in the last race that he was a moderate to reach across the aisle. That's been proven wrong. Now ... people believe things were better during Donald Trump than they are under Joe Biden."

Schimming also claimed that voters in Wisconsin no longer believe Biden when he claims the economy is not a huge concern, because voters can see the higher costs at gas stations and grocery stores. 

"Democrats yesterday morning must have been stunned to get up and look at CNN and see them talking about Biden being six points down nationally, and behind in every state," the chairman said. "But you know what, we're not surprised here. Whether it's the gas pump or the grocery store. This president is asking voters to not believe their own lying eyes. And the truth is they're not believing him."