Coalition of women joins Trump campaign in Wisconsin

Donald Trump's campaign on Wednesday unveiled a coalition of influential women to boost support for the Republican presidential candidate in Wisconsin, including two party activists implicated in a highly publicized investigation into Gov. Scott Walker's county office.

The announcement comes as polls show Trump trailing Democrat Hillary Clinton by double digits in the state and by a 2-to-1 margin among women.

A Marquette University Law School poll released two weeks ago showed Clinton ahead among likely women voters by 31 points -- 61 percent to 30 percent. Trump led Clinton among men by 5 points.

Former Lt. Gov. Margaret Farrow, state Senate President Mary Lazich, of New Berlin, and Sen. Alberta Darling, co-chair of the Legislature's budget committee, head the group. Mary Buestrin, a member of the Republican National Committee, and Cate Zeuske, a top official in Walker's administration as well as a former state representative and treasurer, are also part of the coalition.

But two other members have a more checkered past.

Darlene Wink and Rose Ann Dieck were wrapped up in the first John Doe investigation into Walker's office when he was Milwaukee County executive.

Wink was convicted of two misdemeanors for working on Walker's gubernatorial campaign while also employed in his county executive's office as constituent services coordinator.

She was sentenced in 2013 to probation for one year, 50 hours of community service and $1,000 in fines. She was also barred from any political activity, except for voting, for one year.

Dieck was granted immunity to testify in the probe that netted six convictions, including of Wink.

Pete Meachum, Trump's Wisconsin state director, said in a statement announcing the coalition that the campaign was "thrilled to have so many women leaders" join the effort to elect Trump and his running mate Mike Pence, Indiana's governor.

"Women voters in Wisconsin understand that Hillary Clinton represents a third Obama term, while the Trump-Pence campaign of tougher law enforcement, stopping illegal immigration and bringing back jobs is resonating strongly with them across the state," Meachum said.

Charlotte Rasmussen, president of the Wisconsin Federation of Republican Women, said women across the state are responding to Trump "because of his clear message of strength and resolve to bring law and order back to our inner cities and secure the border."

Kathy Kiernan, a member of the Wisconsin Federation of Republican Women from Washington County, said in a statement that she's drawn to support him because of who he has said he would appoint to the U.S. Supreme Court.

One of the names Trump has mentioned is federal Appeals Court Judge Diane S. Sykes, of Wisconsin.

A spokeswoman for Clinton's campaign in Wisconsin did not immediately return an email seeking comment.