MATT: I AM MATT SMITH. RIGHT NOW ON "UPFRONT," LESS THAN TWO DAYS TO GO. THE SPRINT TO THE PRIMARY. POLLS OPEN TUESDAY MORNING. THIS WEEKEND ALL EYES ON WISCONSIN’S REPUBLICAN RACE FOR GOVERNOR. THE CANDIDATES IN THEIR OWN WORDS FROM OUR TOWN HALL. THEN DEMOCRATS UNITING BEHIND MANDELA BARNES. WHAT HAPPENED BEHIND THE SCENES? SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN STANDING BY AMIDST A BUSY WEEKEND IN WASHINGTON. AND IT’S OFFICIAL. REPUBLICANS MILWAUKEE-BOUND IN 2024. THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION SECURED. RIGHT NOW, THE RNC CHAIRWOMAN, THE CONVENTION AND OUR PRIMARY JUST HOURS AWAY. >> TAKING ON THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO WISCONSIN, THIS IS "UPFRONT." MATT: THANKS FOR JOINING US. I’M MATT SMITH. IN JUST 48 HOURS, POLLS IN WISCONSIN WILL BE OPEN. UNTIL THEN A SPRINT BARNSTORMING THE STATE. FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IN WAUKESHA COUNTY FRIDAY NIGHT CAMPAIGNING FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR TIM MICHELS AND CAMPAIGNING AGAINST ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS. HIS FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE ENDORSING AND CAMPAIGNING FOR REBECCA KLEEFISCH DURING A SEPARATE STOP WEDNESDAY. A PROMINENT SPLIT IN A PROMINENT RACE RECEIVING NATIONAL ATTENTION THIS WEEKEND. ALL THIS AS THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE MAKES OFFICIAL FRIDAY, MILWAUKEE WILL HOST THE 2024 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION. WE’RE IN CHICAGO WITH RNC CHAIRWOMAN RONNA MCDANIEL ON THE RNC AND MOST IMMEDIATE WISCONSIN’S PRIMARY AND THE MIDTERMS. RONNA: THE 2024 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION WILL BE HELD IN THE GREAT CITY OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. [APPLAUSE] REPORTER: REPUBLICANS MAKING IT OFFICIAL. GATHERING IN CHICAGO FRIDAY JUST DAYS AHEAD OF WISCONSIN’S PRIMARY, RNC CHAIRWOMAN RONNA MCDANIEL ALONGSIDE MILWAUKEE MAYOR CAVALIER JOHNSON. RONNA: WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND HE IS A GREAT MAYOR AND I AM SAYING THAT AS A REPUBLICAN SO THE WHOLE WORLD SHOULD BE IN SHOCK RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE IS A BIPARTISAN MOMENT HAPPENING. REPORTER: THE RNC COMING OFF ITS SUMMER MEETING. NOW ALL EYES ON THE 2022 MIDTERMS AND ON WISCONSIN. >> WE HAVE A PRIMARY ON TUESDAY, THE MIDTERMS BEFORE 2024. WE HAVE A TRUMP CANDIDATE, A PENCE CANDIDATE. WHAT IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY LIKE? IS THERE A SPLIT FORMING? RONNA: THERE’S NOT. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS. YOU HAVE PRIMARIES AND PEOPLE ARE ON DIFFERENT SIDES AND EVERYONE IS COMING TOGETHER TO FOCUS ON HOW DO WE WIN THE GENERAL AND THE RNC HAS THE UNIQUE ROLE OF STAYING NEUTRAL IN THE PRIMARIES, WHICH IS LEGALLY WE HAVE TO DO THAT, WHICH HELPS US BE THE PEACEMAKER AFTER THESE PRIMARIES AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND FOCUS ON WHAT WE REALLY HAVE TO DO TO WIN BACK THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION, RE-ELECT RON JOHNSON AND WIN HOUSE SEATS IN WISCONSIN. MATT: HOW CRITICAL WILL WISCONSIN BE NOT ONLY IN THE MIDTERMS BUT 2024? RONNA: WISCONSIN IS A PIVOTAL STATE IN 2022. WE HAVE TO RE-ELECT RON JOHNSON, WE HAVE A HOUSE SEAT WE HAVE TO WIN. WE HAVE TO PICK UP RON KIND’S SEAT, WE’RE ABSOLUTELY INVESTED IN WISCONSIN AND OF COURSE WE WANT TO FLIP THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION. I HAVE A HARD TIME SAYING THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR’S BEEN REALLY GREAT THROUGH THIS PROCESS IN BRINGING THE RNC. WE STILL WANT TO BEAT HIM BUT WE ARE THANKFUL OF HIS SUPPORT OF US COMING TO MILWAUKEE. MATT: WISCONSIN NATIVE REINCE PRIEBUS, THE FORMER RNC CHAIR AND CHIEF OF STAFF IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WILL CHAIR MILWAUKEE’S HOST COMMITTEE, KNOWING WISCONSIN POLITICS WELL, NOW TASKED WITH RAISING TENS-OF-MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HOST THE CONVENTION. >> I’VE RAISED A LOT OF MONEY IN MY TIME AS CHAIRMAN, I’VE NEVER BEEN KNOWN AS A PERSON WHO CAN’T RAISE MONEY. WE WILL RAISE THE MONEY AND WHATEVER MONEY NEEDS TO BE RAISED, WE WILL GET IT DONE. WE’LL PUT ON A GREAT SHOW IN MILWAUKEE. I THINK PEOPLE BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WILL BE PROUD OF THE FUN, RESPECTFUL EFFECTIVE CONVENTION WE’RE GOING TO PUT ON HERE IN MILWAUKEE. MATT: REINCE, FIRST WE HAVE THE MIDTERMS, A PRIMARY ON TUESDAY. YOU HAVE A TRUMP CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, A PENCE CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR. HOW DIVIDED IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND IS THIS GOING TO PLAY INTO 2024? REINCE: LISTEN, WE LIVE IN A DIVIDED WORLD. I DON’T KNOW WHO’S GOING TO BE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT YET. I THINK DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO RUN. I DON’T KNOW WHO ELSE IS GOING TO RUN BUT I THINK WE’RE GOING TO COME TOGETHER AS A PARTY NO MATTER WHO THE NOMINEE IS AND THE DEMOCRATS COULD HAVE A BATTLE ON THEIR HANDS. I DON’T KNOW IF JOE BIDEN’S GOING TO RUN OR WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPENED THERE. EITHER WAY, THE JOB OF THE HOST COMMITTEE IS GOING TO PUT ON THE CONVENTION EVENT FOR THE NATIONAL PARTY, RAISE THE MONEY, WORK WITH THE NATIONAL PARTY AND DID THAT JOB DONE. MATT: PRIEBUS THIS WEEKEND DEFENDING HIS FORMER COLLEGE ROOMMATE, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS, JUST DAYS FROM VOS FACING A PRIMARY CHALLENGER ADAM STEEN WHO RECEIVED THE ENDORSEMENT FROM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. VOS MAINTAINING DECERTIFYING THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION IMPOSSIBLE. REINCEE: HE IS A GOOD MAN. I LOVE ROBIN. HE IS A GOOD MAN. HE’S LED THIS STATE OF WISCONSIN WELL. MATT: REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN CHAIRMAN PAUL FARROW AHEAD OF TUESDAY. HOW CRITICAL IS WISCONSIN GOING TO BE IN 2024? >> IT IS A HINGE STATE. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE WE HAVE BEEN, EVERY SINGLE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WE’RE RIGHT THERE. THEY NEED THE 10 ELECTORAL VOTES WE HAVE. THIS IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER SWING STATE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT, THIS IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF CONVO AROUND WISCONSIN IN 2024. WE’RE GOING TO BE READY FOR IT, THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO SHOW IT OFF. MATT: YOU FIRST HAVE THE MIDTERMS, PRIMARY, A TRUMP, PENCE CANDIDATE. THIS IS PLAYING OUT THROUGH THE MIDTERMS. GOOD PLAY OUT IN 2024. WHAT IS IT DOING TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HERE IN WISCONSIN HEADING INTO THE MIDTERMS? >> THE LEVEL OF ENERGY WE’RE SEEING RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE BOARD IS INCREDIBLE. THE ENTHUSIASM WHEN I’M TALKING TO COUNTY PARTIES ACROSS THE STATE, THEY ARE READY TO GO. THEY WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE IN 2022. WHEN NOVEMBER COMES WE HOPE TO HAVE A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN THERE THAT’S GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE CHANGES WE NEED TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD. WE’LL GET THROUGH THE PRIMARY AND RIGHT AFTER THAT ON AUG. 10 TO TAKE THAT CANDIDATE FORWARD TO NOVEMBER. MATT: YOU SEEM TO BE DOWNPLAYING THE DIVIDE A LITTLE BIT HEADING INTO TUESDAY. >> IT IS A CHALLENGE. I’VE BEEN THERE AS A CANDIDATE MYSELF. I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THROUGH HER PRIMARY. WHAT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS TYPICAL IN A PRIMARY SITUATION. IS IT ONE I’D LIKE TO SEE? NO, I’D RATHER SEE THE ENERGY PUT FORTH ON THE OTHER SIDE TO SHOW HOW WEAK THE DEMOCRATS ARE. THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO. WE’RE GOING TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE ON AUGUST 10 TO HELP THEM OUT. MATT: HOW BIG OF A FACTOR IS TRUMP NOW? HOW BIG DO YOU THINK HE’LL BE IN 2024 IN WISCONSIN? >> WE WILL SEE. I CANNOT PUT MY FINGER ON IT. YOU SEE SOME OF THE PRIMARIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SOME OF THE CANDIDATES ARE WINNING, SOME ARE LOSING. I DON’T KNOW IF HIS ENERGY CONTINUES OR WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPENED. THAT WILL SHOW UP ON TUESDAY NIGHT FOR SURE AND WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN 2024. MATT: LET’S BRING IN RICK KLEIN. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WOMEN LOOK TO THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS RACE? >> IF ANYTHING IS CARRYING OVER IT WILL BE IN THE TRUMP DIRECTION. THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR MICHAELS OR ANYONE RUNNING UNDER THE TRUMP BANNER BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN TRUMP SWEEP. ARIZONA WAS ALMOST A CLEAN VICTORY UP AND DOWN FOR TRUMP-ENDORSED CANDIDATES. IN MICHIGAN, A SIMILAR STORY AND EVEN THE DEFEAT OF ONE OF THE ONLY 10 IMPEACHMENT SUPPORTING REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE. WE ARE SEEING TRUMPISM CARRY THE DAY IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES. HE DOES NOT HAVE A PERFECT RECORD. THERE ARE PLACES WHERE HE HAS HAD A SWING IN A MESS. BUT HE HAS WON AND LOST IN OPEN RACES. HE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING HIS CHOICE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. MATT: YOU HAD TRUMP HERE ON FRIDAY. YOU ALSO HAD HIM GO AGAINST ROBIN VOS. THIS IS A SMALL ASSEMBLY RACE IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. THIS PAST WEEK HE ENDORSES HIS REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER WHO APPEARS HE DOES NOT HAVE A CHANCE AT WINNING AT LEAST BEFORE THE ENDORSEMENT. WHAT IS THE THOUGHT IN THESE LOW-LEVEL ASSEMBLY RACES? ROBIN VOS IS POWERFUL IN THE STATE BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THIS SEEMS LIKE A RISK. >> IT DOES. TRUMP IS PROBABLY FEELING CONFIDENT AFTER THE BEATING -- AFTER DEFEATING RUSTY BOWERS. RUSTY BOWERS WAS MORE OUTSPOKEN IN HIS OPPOSITION TO TRUMP AND EVEN TESTIFIED BEFORE THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE. THE VOS FAMILY IS A POWERFUL ENTITY. WHAT AN UPSET THAT WOULD BE. I THINK THERE IS ANOTHER LAYER TO THIS. REVENGE IS A PIECE OF IT. CLEARLY TRUMP HAS DONE THAT AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT. HE IS TRYING TO REMAKE STATE LEGISLATURES IN HIS OWN IMAGE. HE HAS BEEN TOLD BY PEOPLE AROUND HIM ABOUT SOME OF THE THEORIES OF HOW THE ELECTION MIGHT BEEN OVERTURNED. IF YOU HAD A FRIEND THE LEGISLATURE, THAT MIGHT BE A PIECE OF IT AND THAT IS WHERE HE REACHES LOWER DOWN THE BALLOT. BUT SPEAKER VOS IS ON MY WAY TO LOSE AND IT WOULD BE A MAJOR UPSET BUT TRUMP MAY FEEL EMBOLDENED BY THE STRING OF VICTORIES HE HAS HAD. MATT: DEMOCRATS ARE CLEARING THE FIELD FOR MANDELA BARNES TO WIN AND TAKE ON RON JOHNSON. DID THAT SURPRISE YOU AND HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN BEHIND THE SCENES WHERE YOU ARE IN THE MIDST OF EARLY VOTING? >> WE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY AND REGISTERING AND POLLS AND SEEING IT THROUGH. IT WAS UNLIKELY TO DROP OUT. IT HAS BEEN A CLINICAL DISPLAY OF DISCIPLINE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. IT REMINDED ME OF WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020 WHEN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES WERE ABOUT TO GET MESSY. SUDDENLY YOU HAD PEOPLE LIKE AMY KLOBUCHAR AND PETE BUTTIGIEG DROP OUT BEFORE SUPER TUESDAY. THEY REALIZED THE WRITING WAS ON THE WALL. IN THIS CASE, HER EYES ARE ON THE BIGGER PRIZE, DEFEATING RON JOHNSON. TRYING TO STOP A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF FIGHTING, GET THE PARTY MORE EXCITED AGAINST SOMEONE WHO THEY REALLY SEE AS A RISING STAR, YOU CANNOT UNDERESTIMATE HOW IMPORTANT THIS RACE IS TO REPUBLICANS. IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO HOLD ONTO THE SENATE SEAT IN WISCONSIN, A LOT OF THEIR CHANCES IN TAKING OVER THIS SENATE FADE. JOHNSON IS SO LOATHED IN DEMOCRAT CIRCLES. THEY WOULD LOVE TO DEFEAT HIM. MATT: MANDELA BARNES PREPARING FOR VICTORY TUESDAY COMING AMIDST A VICTORY IN THE SENATE.