Three months after the Republican presidential candidates started the campaign trail in Iowa, the political frenzy now comes to Wisconsin.
And one of the cities they’ll be coming to this week is Waukesha.
Former Massachusetts governor and the party’s frontrunner Mitt Romney, former US Senator Rick Santorum and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich will all make an appearance at Saturday’s Wisconsin Faith & Freedom Coalition Presidential Kickoff.
The event is from 10 a.m. to noon at the Grand Ballroom inside the Country Springs Hotel in Waukesha, 2810 Golf Road. The Faith & Freedom Coalition is sponsoring the event.
In addition to the Presidential candidates, the coalition expects more than 1,000 grassroots activists, pastors and key leaders from across Wisconsin to attend the event.
Invited speakers include Rep. Ron Paul (who is on the Presidential Primary ballot), Gov. Scott Walker, Sen. Ron Johnson, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, Rep. Paul Ryan, Rep. Sean Duffy, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, Rep. Tom Petri and Rep. Reid Ribble.
The event is free, but the coalition is asking those interested to register at its website, ffcoalition.com.
The Presidential candidates will leave after the event, but the Country Springs Hotel will also host another Republican Party event later that day.
The 62nd annual Lincoln/ Reagan Dinner, sponsored by the Republican Party of Waukesha County, begins with a social at 6 p.m. The dinner is at 7 p.m. The emcee for the event is WISN radio talk show host Vicki McKenna. Featured speakers will be Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus and Rep. Sensenbrenner and the keynote speaker is Gov. Walker.
The cost is $50 for members and $75 for nonmembers. Those interested can RSVP and make checks payable to the RPWC, 270 W. Broadway, Suite 8 Waukesha, WI 53186. E-mail hq@waukeshagop.org with a list of names and your table is secured when your check is received.
For more information or to sign up online, visit www.waukeshagop.org or call (262) 542-8532.
So far, 33 primaries have taken place with Romney the clear favorite at this point winning 21 of them and holding a reported 568 delegates.
Santorum has been ruled the winner in 11 of the elections with 261 delegates, while Gingrich has taken two states with 137 delegates. The winner needs 1,144 delegates.
Other elections April 3 include the District of Columbia, which gives out 19 delegates and Maryland (37). The Wisconsin winner earns 42 delegates.
There are 19 more Presidential primaries scheduled in advance of the Republican National Convention Aug. 27 to 30.