Hundreds of miles from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, patriotism runs high in the La Crosse area. You can tell by the American flag that waves throughout the community, in front of homes and on the streets.

With the convention so far away, we had to wonder: Is anybody out there watching?

We made stops at a local park, where people told us off camera they knew nothing about a convention and didn’t care. Later, they said they identify as Democrats.

The city of La Crosse, including its downtown and nearby neighborhoods are seen from Grandad Bluff. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

Just up the road at the Viterbo Sports Complex, it’s Little League night. We spoke with just about everybody in the stands behind home plate and along the third baseline. Many admitted they’re Republican, and they don’t overly care about the convention. And, they don’t care to say so on television.

In nearby Onalaska, Trump yard signs were visible.

Like everywhere else around the area, talk of the RNC tops the local news. Surely, a supporter with signs of who they support as nominee will talk. After a knock on the door, they told us, “‘No thank you, we’re not interested.”

Back in La Crosse, across the tracks, below Grandad Bluff, near Forest Hills Golf Course, right on Main Street, we found Dominic Roswell at Bluffside Tavern having a drink with a friend. Bluffside has been around for a long time, a really long time.

Roswell grew up in La Crosse. When it comes to voting, he considers himself part of a key voting demographic — the independent voter. When it comes to watching the Republican Convention, he’s ambivalent about it.

“It appeals mostly to the base. I think really, that’s where the target audience is, is strengthening the base. I don’t know if the independents like me really care much about it,” said Roswell.

Dominic Roswell, a political independent, sits inside Bluffside Tavern in La Crosse during the 2024 Republican National Convention. “I don’t know if the independents like me really care much about it,” Roswell said about the RNC. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

“Only because it’s in Wisconsin — and everything that’s happened recently with the assassination attempt on Trump,” he said.

Way up on Grandad Bluff, you can enjoy a million-dollar view for free or an enhanced one for less than a dollar.

“I hope there’s a lot of hoopla for the Republican Party,” said Michael Eve, an independent voter. “I myself — I am not decided yet on who I want to vote for.”

We found a viewpoint with grandad Eve, who admitted to watching some of the Republican convention. He said he enjoys watching the political analysis more.

“These politicians just go on and on and on and say what you want to hear,” Eve said. “And then, reporters, in a nutshell said, ‘Well, this is what the guy said,’ you know, so why should I watch hours of them?”

Michael Eve, a political independent, stands atop Grandad Bluff in La Crosse during the 2024 Republican National Convention. “I myself — I am not decided yet on who I want to vote for,” Eve said. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

“What turns into, like, a nice discussion all of a sudden turns into — you know, oh, they’re at each other’s throats. They don’t talk to each other again. It’s really not worth it,” said Eve.

“I’m old enough to remember where you can go to parties and be of different political affiliations, and you can still exist at a party and converse with each other. It doesn’t seem that case anymore. People just don’t want to talk about — they, in fact, that they find out that you have another political affiliation, you won’t get invited to the party,” Roswell said.

Welcome to Fathead Steve’s in downtown La Crosse. We were there during primetime coverage of the convention — and at other bars. What’s showing on TV at Fathead Steve’s? Not the convention.

“Politics and religion are two topics that, just, the conversation can’t be had,” said bartender Ariel Malvitt. From her experience, politics and drinks don’t mix well.

Ariel Malvitt, a bartender, sits inside Fathead Steve’s bar in downtown La Crosse during the 2024 Republican National Convention. “Politics and religion are two topics that, just, the conversation can’t be had,” Malvitt said. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

And from what we could tell, in some cases, not outside the bar either.