Wisconsin U.S. Senate Race Roundup: July 26

Leading up to the Aug. 14 primary, Patch will regularly bring you the latest news from the campaigns for Wisconsin's U.S. Senate seat in play this election cycle.

WISN cancels debate

WISN-TV (Channel 12) on Tuesday cancelled a debate planned with GOP candidates due to scheduling issues between the station and Eric Hovde's campaign.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, representatives of the station were able to get commitments from the Tommy Thompson, Mark Neumann and Jeff Fitzgerald campaigns, but they did not come to a consensus with Hovde.

The debate was set to take place at the Marquette University Law School on July 31, Aug. 2 or Aug. 7. A debate is still planned for the winner of the Aug. 14 primary and Democratic candidate Tammy Baldwin.

After that announcement Tuesday, the Thompson campaign shot out a press release Wednesday claiming that Hovde is "skipping a debate" and listing what it calls "conflicting explanations" from Hovde.

Hovde touts business experience

In a press release Wednesday, the Hovde campaign laid out its recurring message that Hovde is a "conservative businessman and political outsider" running against what it calls "career politicians."

Here are some excerpts from that message:

And in an election that is clearly about the economy, the resume matters.

Eric Hovde has never run for office before, but he has spent 25 years in the private sector building and turning around companies and creating 100’s of American jobs. With that private sector experience, Hovde understands the importance of balancing a budget and making payroll because in business, if you do not live within your means, you fail.

On August 14th and November 6th, Wisconsin voters have a clear choice: more debt and more taxes from the very same career politicians who got us into this mess, or a political outsider who has the courage to make the tough choices needed to put things back on track.

The message also listed off Hovde's opponents Neumann, Thompson and Baldwin, noting their history of running for elective offices.

In other Hovde campaign news, he will hold a "Get out the Vote" event with country music artist Rodney Atkins at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Country Springs Hotel in Pewaukee.

Neumann blasts Obama on new CBO estimates

At a campaign stop in La Crosse Tuesday, Neumann cited a new Congressional Budget Office analysis of the Affordable Care Act — so-called "ObamaCare" — saying that the legislation will cost more than anticipated and pledging his commitment to repealing it.

"Today brings more disappointing news about ObamaCare," Neumann was quoted in a press release. "We’ve learned that it will cost and tax hundreds of billions more than Barack Obama told us. This is just one more reason why I’ll repeal ObamaCare, defund it, and dismantle the bureaucracy designed to implement it."

Neumann was drawing from just one aspect of the report, though. Following the CBO report, other news outlets are reporting that the law saves the federal government $84 billion.

Wisconsin Family Action PAC endorses Hovde, Neumann

Both Neumann and Hovde picked up an endorsement Monday — from the same organization.

The Wisconsin Family Action PAC, a pro-life organization with a "mission of advancing Judeo-Christian principles and values in Wisconsin," gave its nod to both candidates.

"Both of these candidates understand the importance of preserving and promoting our most valuable resource — the family — in public policy and in their personal lives," WFA PAC Director Julaine Appling said in a press release. "Our country is facing unique challenges, calling for people of character and courage to stand strong in many areas, not the least of which are marriage, family, life and liberty."

State Rep. Jeff Stone endorses Thompson

State Rep. Jeff Stone, who represents parts of Greendale and Greenfield in the 83rd Assembly District, officially endorsed Thompson Tuesday, calling him a "proven and tested conservative."

"Tommy is Obamacare repeal-ready, and he knows how to balance budgets without doing it on the backs of taxpayers," Stone said in a press release. "He's the only candidate in this race with a plan to cut and cap spending as well as cap revenues."

Check back at Patch.com for more updates on the Senate race.