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300 Drivers Get Gas for $1.84 a Gallon in Rib Mountain

Updated: Tue 6:44 PM, Oct 30, 2012

In an effort to convince potential voters that President Barack Obama's policies have failed them, Americans For Prosperity offered cheap gas Tuesday in Rib Mountain.

300 drivers lined up their vehicles to try and fill up at just $1.84 a gallon at the Mobil Gas Station. AFP paid the $1.70/gallon difference.

"We're out here reminding folks what it was like to fill their tanks before President Obama took office and his failed economic and energy policies are reminding those folks what it's like every day filling up their car," said Luke Hilgemann, the Wisconsin state director for Americans For Prosperity.

With a constant stream of cars, the Marathon County Sheriff's Department was on hand to control traffic. Many drivers were turned away.

Everyone who received the discounted gas was asked to sign a petition put together by the conservative advocacy group, which highlights what it calls Obama's failing agenda. But they didn't have to sign it to get the deal.

Melvin Stahel noticed the frenzy of cars, so he quickly lined up.

As an undecided voter, he says gas prices are an issue for him, but even after Tuesday's political event he still doesn't know if he'll support the President or Mitt Romney.

"I haven't quite figured that out yet," Stahel said.

Meanwhile, the communications director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin says if people are looking to pay less at the pump, they should favor Obama's approach of increased domestic oil production, better fuel energy standards, and investments in solar and wind power.

"I think it's amazing that an advocacy group that gets its money from big oil would want to be out there highlighting that Mitt Romney is in the pocket of big oil," Graeme Zielinski said.

At the end of the day, Americans For Prosperity had paid about $7,000 in fuel.

We Are Wisconsin, a political advocacy group that supports progessive candidates, is accusing Americans For Prosperity of election bribery.

We Are Wisconsin says Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin’s offer of gas for votes exceeds the $1 limit set in Wis. Stats. Section 12.11(1) covering election bribery.

“Americans for Prosperity’s latest scheme to ‘persuade’ voters that President Obama’s policies are failing clearly cross the threshold of legal electoral work in the State of Wisconsin especially when coupled with the nearly $5 million they’ve spent on broadcast television in Wisconsin since January 2012” said Kristen Crowell, We Are Wisconsin Executive Director.


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