MADISON (AP) - Wisconsin Republicans headed to Cleveland next week for the national GOP convention are scheduled to have a late night "beer and brats bash," attend a reception outside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and honor Gov. Scott Walker.
That's according to a tentative schedule of events for the Wisconsin delegation obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press. The final schedule, as well as speaking days and times for Walker and House Speaker Paul Ryan, has not been made public.
Ryan, Walker and other Wisconsin delegates have had a complicated relationship with the presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. Both Walker and Ryan have endorsed Trump, but they both have also been critical of Trump's positions and comments.
When Walker dropped out of the presidential race last year, he urged others to join him so Trump could be defeated. He also endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in Wisconsin's primary, and campaigned with him to defeat Trump.
Still, both Walker and Ryan are going to be speaking at the convention. Walker has said that his address will focus on why Democrat Hillary Clinton needs to be defeated, while Ryan is expected to talk mostly about the House GOP agenda.
The official convention business will be happening inside the Quicken Loans Arena, but there are plenty of extracurricular events set up for the Wisconsin delegation after hours.
It kicks off Saturday night with a "Chairman's Gala" at the Cleveland Powerhouse, a former power station converted into an entertainment and retail hub. On Sunday afternoon, as Wisconsin's 42 delegates, guests and others are checking into their hotel, they are invited to partake in an event dubbed "Jump Around: A True Wisconsin Happy Hour."
All attendees at the convention are invited to attend a "Rock the Night" reception at the harbor adjacent to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center. The itinerary says there will be access to both museums.
Following the first day of the convention on Monday, a late night "beer and brats bash" is planned to run from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Similarly, on Tuesday from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. a "Raise "em up on the river" party at a bar that sits on a river leading into Lake Erie.
The Wednesday night reception, billed as "Dancing when the stars go red," is at the hotel where the delegation is staying in downtown Cleveland.
Following the last night of the convention, a celebration honoring Walker is scheduled for between 10 p.m. and midnight once again at the Cleveland Powerhouse.
Democrats reacted with snark to the Wisconsin Republican itinerary.
"On the first night of their party's national convention, the Republican Party of Wisconsin is looking to distract their homegrown "Never Trump' delegates from their train-wreck of a presidential candidate," said Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesman Brandon Weathersby. "While Democrats continue to come together in support of Secretary Hillary Clinton, the Republican Party is desperately trying to sell their nominee to their own base."
And Scot Ross, head of the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now, said this: "It sure is "Midwest nice' of Gov. Walker to give Republicans a place to drown their sorrows over Donald Trump being their presidential nominee."
That's according to a tentative schedule of events for the Wisconsin delegation obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press. The final schedule, as well as speaking days and times for Walker and House Speaker Paul Ryan, has not been made public.
Ryan, Walker and other Wisconsin delegates have had a complicated relationship with the presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. Both Walker and Ryan have endorsed Trump, but they both have also been critical of Trump's positions and comments.
When Walker dropped out of the presidential race last year, he urged others to join him so Trump could be defeated. He also endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in Wisconsin's primary, and campaigned with him to defeat Trump.
Still, both Walker and Ryan are going to be speaking at the convention. Walker has said that his address will focus on why Democrat Hillary Clinton needs to be defeated, while Ryan is expected to talk mostly about the House GOP agenda.
The official convention business will be happening inside the Quicken Loans Arena, but there are plenty of extracurricular events set up for the Wisconsin delegation after hours.
It kicks off Saturday night with a "Chairman's Gala" at the Cleveland Powerhouse, a former power station converted into an entertainment and retail hub. On Sunday afternoon, as Wisconsin's 42 delegates, guests and others are checking into their hotel, they are invited to partake in an event dubbed "Jump Around: A True Wisconsin Happy Hour."
All attendees at the convention are invited to attend a "Rock the Night" reception at the harbor adjacent to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center. The itinerary says there will be access to both museums.
Following the first day of the convention on Monday, a late night "beer and brats bash" is planned to run from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Similarly, on Tuesday from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. a "Raise "em up on the river" party at a bar that sits on a river leading into Lake Erie.
The Wednesday night reception, billed as "Dancing when the stars go red," is at the hotel where the delegation is staying in downtown Cleveland.
Following the last night of the convention, a celebration honoring Walker is scheduled for between 10 p.m. and midnight once again at the Cleveland Powerhouse.
Democrats reacted with snark to the Wisconsin Republican itinerary.
"On the first night of their party's national convention, the Republican Party of Wisconsin is looking to distract their homegrown "Never Trump' delegates from their train-wreck of a presidential candidate," said Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesman Brandon Weathersby. "While Democrats continue to come together in support of Secretary Hillary Clinton, the Republican Party is desperately trying to sell their nominee to their own base."
And Scot Ross, head of the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now, said this: "It sure is "Midwest nice' of Gov. Walker to give Republicans a place to drown their sorrows over Donald Trump being their presidential nominee."