Wisconsin senate candidates deride each other on day of Harris rally

(The Center Square) - The Wisconsin race for U.S. Senate has been defined by candidates Democratic Incumbent U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Republican challenger Eric Hovde making derogatory remarks about each other.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ first rally as presidential candidate eaerlier this week provided both with the opportunity to continue doing so.

In a media call previewing the afternoon rally, Hovde made his usual talking points about his opponent being an enabler for the Biden-Harris administration’s failed policies, and also pointed out the hypocrisy of her attacking his financial status.

“Sen. Baldwin has to own what the Biden and Harris record has done,” Hovde said. “And by the way, I am amazed by the lack of interest by the press of the fact that her partner in New York is a wealth manager to the uber-wealthy in the private equity set, that Tammy Baldwin takes money from Big Pharma, Big Tech, a lot of special interest money, which I have sworn off.”

Later that day, when speaking at the Harris rally, Baldwin accused her opponent of being a corrupt business owner out of touch with Wisconsinites, a theme her campaign utilizes often.

“Eric Hovde wants to cut Social Security and Medicare, while giving new tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and well connected, just like himself. As your senator I will always fight to bring down the costs for working families, and make sure that multi-millionaires like my opponent pay their fair share,” she said.

Hovde retaliated later that day.

“Vice President Harris and Sen. Baldwin are both failed politicians who are completely out of touch with Wisconsin families,” he said in a statement. “They’ve done nothing to repair the damage done by the Harris-Baldwin agenda that sparked record-high inflation, allowed thousands of illegal immigrants to flood into the country and caused a surge in violent crime. It’s time for change and it starts right here in Wisconsin.”

Trump-endorsed Hovde has closely aligned himself with the former president’s policies, pledging his support to finish the border wall, among other things.

Results from a new poll conducted by Emerson College show Baldwin leading Hovde 49% to 43%, a 3 point increase for her and 1 point decrease for him since Emerson’s June poll .

The new poll was conducted July 22-23 with a sample size of 845 Wisconsin residents and a +/-3.3% margin of error.