Conservative groups have so far spent more than $3.1 million against incumbent Wisconsin Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, which is more than what all the other Democratic Senate incumbents on the ballot this year have faced combined, that figure according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
While in Rhinelander recently, Baldwin discussed early campaign spending and what her opponents say is a race that is open...
"...Wisconsin has always been a battleground state, so it's not unusual that they've taken note of a state that voted for President Obama and also voted for President Trump. That's natural. We also know there's also going to be a really active Governor's race at the same time as the Senate race...."
She says she has stood up in the Senate against large corporations taking advantage of the public and that has caught the attention of big donors on the other side of the political aisle...
"....I stand up to hedge funds on Wall Street that close down paper mills in Wisconsin like they did in Brokaw. I stand up to the Koch Brothers who are invested mightily to try to get tax breaks through that tax bill that probably made those expenditures a good investment for them because they are going to see millions and millions of tax benefits in this tax bill...."
Baldwin has two Republican challengers. Businessman Kevin Nicholson and State Senator Leah Vukmir.
Nicholson raised twice as much as Vukmir, in the final three months of last year. Outside groups have also spent more than $2 million dollars in support of Nicholson. Both candidates will face off in the August primary, with the winner to face Baldwin.
