The Latest: Group backing Evers launches $1.8 million ad buy

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Latest on Wisconsin governor’s race (all times local):

3:06 p.m.

The air war in Wisconsin’s governor’s race is picking up.

A group backed by the Democratic Governors Association is launching a $1.8 million television ad to boost Tony Evers in his run against Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

It comes as the Wisconsin Republican Party is launching a $500,000 attack ad against Evers. He won the Democratic nomination Tuesday.

In the pro-Evers spot, his work as a teacher, superintendent and now state superintendent is contrasted with images of Walker exiting a private airplane. While Evers is described as caring about roads, health care and schools, Walker is cast as a politician “who only cares about politics.”

The anti-Evers ad says he failed to keep children safe when he didn’t revoke the license of a teacher who viewed pornographic material in the classroom.

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2:20 p.m.

An attack ad against Democratic candidate for governor Tony Evers accuses him of not protecting the safety of children because he didn’t revoke the license of a teacher caught viewing pornographic material at school.

The Wisconsin Republican Party is launching the ad on Thursday as part of a $500,000 buy.

Evers said Wednesday he will “fight back” against every attack lodged by Walker and his allies, saying the “divide and conquer” tactic “doesn’t work anymore.”

The ad involves the case of Middleton teacher Andrew Harris who was fired by the district in 2010 but an arbitrator gave him his job back in 2014.

Evers successfully lobbied the Legislature to change the law in 2011 in response to the Harris case to allow for license revocation in cases where teachers view pornography in the classroom.

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11:05 a.m.

Democratic candidate for governor Tony Evers says he’s open to looking at toll roads and raising the gas tax as part of a solution to solve Wisconsin’s transportation funding shortfall.

Evers spoke to reporters Wednesday after his first meeting with lieutenant governor nominee Mandela Barnes.

Evers was asked to react to Gov. Scott Walker saying Evers would raise the gas tax by a dollar a gallon. Evers says he’s open to looking at “anything,” including toll roads, gas taxes, removing tax credits and “slimming down state government.”

Evers says, “All I know is everything (Walker’s) done has failed.”

Evers also downplayed a host of tax break proposals Walker unveiled Wednesday. Evers says Walker has “had all sorts of promises he hasn’t kept for the last eight years. He spent most of his time breaking those promises.”

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8:15 a.m.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker is proposing new tax credits in the wake of Tony Evers winning the Democratic nomination for governor.

Walker unveiled outlines of proposals and a new ad on Wednesday morning, the day after the primary. Walker is seeking a third term.

Walker is calling for a new $5,000 credit over five years for college graduates who live and work in Wisconsin as a way to reduce college loan debt. He’s already called for extending a University of Wisconsin tuition freeze for four more years.

He’s also proposing a tax credit program to help senior citizens afford to live in their homes. He did not immediately release details of what that would cost. Walker also wants to expand apprenticeships available to middle school students.

Walker says he will also propose a tax credit designed to lower child care costs and continue a back-to-school sales tax holiday.

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7:36 a.m.

Tony Evers will try to capitalize on his even-keeled demeanor and background in education as a former teacher, superintendent and now state schools chief to do something no Democrat has been able to achieve in 28 years — beat Scott Walker.

Evers won Wisconsin’s eight-person primary Tuesday and immediately finds himself trailing in fundraising and name ID to Walker. The Republican is seeking a third term after returning to Wisconsin following his failed run for president in 2016.

Walker has not lost an election in Wisconsin since his first run for the state Assembly as a 22-year-old in 1990. He’s been in elected office since 1993.

Democrats are optimistic this year represents the best shot they’ve ever had at taking out Walker as polls show a favorable climate.