A new political ad brings attention to a controversial remark made by a Democratic senator about supporters of former President Donald Trump.
According to Fox News, Eric Hovde, a Republican businessman challenging Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin, has released a campaign advertisement highlighting Baldwin's past comments about Trump voters.
The ad draws parallels between Baldwin's statement and Hillary Clinton's infamous "basket of deplorables" remark from the 2016 presidential campaign.
The advertisement, set to air across Wisconsin starting Tuesday, features a clip of Baldwin from a 2016 speech in which she questions the character of Trump supporters. This comes as part of Hovde's multimillion-dollar statewide ad campaign aimed at unseating Baldwin in the upcoming election.
In the newly released ad, Baldwin is heard saying:
Donald Trump might be one of the most offensive, hateful and unacceptable presidential candidates we've ever had. So what does that say about the people who support him?
The Hovde campaign juxtaposes this statement with Clinton's "basket of deplorables" comment, which many political analysts believe contributed to her loss in the 2016 presidential election.
Zach Bannon, a spokesperson for Hovde, criticized Baldwin's stance, stating that her disdain for Wisconsin's Trump voters could negatively impact her re-election bid. Bannon emphasized the similarity between Baldwin's and Clinton's attitudes toward Trump supporters.
In response to the advertisement, Baldwin's campaign defended the senator's record of representing all Wisconsin residents, regardless of their political affiliations. A spokesperson for Baldwin stated that she fights for all Wisconsinites, irrespective of their voting preferences or place of residence.
The Baldwin campaign also countered by pointing out controversial statements made by Hovde in the past. They referenced a 2016 interview where Hovde used the term "deplorable" to describe what he perceived as a lack of civic knowledge among average Americans.
Recent polling data suggests a close contest between Baldwin and Hovde in Wisconsin, a crucial swing state. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted in early October showed Baldwin leading Hovde by a narrow margin of 50% to 46%, with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.
The competitiveness of the race is further underscored by the Cook Political Report's recent decision to change its rating of the Wisconsin Senate race from "Lean Democrat" to a "Toss Up." This shift indicates the increasing uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the election.
As the 2024 election approaches, the Wisconsin Senate race is garnering significant attention due to its potential impact on the balance of power in Congress. With split-ticket voting becoming increasingly rare, the outcome of this Senate race could be closely tied to the results of the presidential election.
The use of past controversial statements in political advertising highlights the intensifying nature of the campaign as both parties vie for control of this key Senate seat. As Election Day draws near, voters in Wisconsin can expect to see more targeted messaging from both campaigns as they attempt to sway public opinion in this closely watched contest.
