Republican Representative Derrick Van Orden has devised a strategy to counter his new opponent, Rebecca Cooke, by associating her with democratic socialism.
“Tying Rebecca Cooke to socialism is as straightforward as linking her to red hair. It’s simply who she is,” Van Orden stated in an interview following Cooke’s official win of the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin’s 3rd District on Tuesday.
The Republican from Wisconsin is employing a “two-pronged” approach to maintain his seat: showcasing his achievements on veterans’ issues and other matters, while portraying Cooke as more extreme than she presents herself on topics like policing and immigration.
Van Orden mentioned that he recently filmed advertisements emphasizing his background as a Navy SEAL. In these ads, he referred to Cooke as a “cocktail communist” and implied that she was “anointed” by establishment figures. He noted that these ads would soon be widespread on the airwaves.
Like many of his Republican peers, Van Orden was prepared to link Cooke to democratic socialist Francesca Hong, who is engaged in a tight Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor. Van Orden conceded that if Hong were to lose to the more moderate David Crowley, it could reduce “national attention” on Wisconsin.
Nonetheless, Van Orden stated his intention to portray Cooke as a significant threat independently, regardless of Hong’s success.
