Republican businessman Eric Hovde is leveraging Democrat Sen. Tammy Baldwin's past remarks on Trump supporters in his bid to unseat her in the pivotal swing state of Wisconsin.
In a recent ad by the Hovde campaign, Baldwin's 2016 statement criticizing Donald Trump and his supporters is juxtaposed with Hillary Clinton's 'basket of deplorables' comment. The ad, part of a multimillion-dollar statewide campaign, aims to highlight Baldwin's alleged disdain for Trump voters.
Hovde's spokesman, Zach Bannon, emphasized the parallels between Baldwin and Clinton, suggesting that Baldwin's sentiments towards Wisconsin's Trump supporters could impact her reelection prospects.
In response, a spokesperson for Baldwin defended her record of advocating for all Wisconsinites, regardless of their political affiliations or backgrounds. The spokesperson also pointed to past comments made by Hovde that were perceived as derogatory towards various groups.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll showed Baldwin leading Hovde by a narrow margin of 50% to 46%, indicating a tightening race compared to earlier surveys. The poll, conducted among 1,073 likely voters, had a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.
The Cook Political Report recently shifted its rating of the Wisconsin Senate race from 'Lean Democrat' to a 'Toss Up,' reflecting the competitive nature of the contest. With split-ticket voting becoming less common, the outcome of the Senate race, coinciding with the presidential election, may hinge on which party secures the White House.
As Election Day approaches, early and mail-in voting has already commenced, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the final results of the closely watched Wisconsin Senate race.
