Wisconsin U.S. Senate Race Roundup: July 10

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.

Wisconsin GOP, Thompson Blast Baldwin on New Medicare Ad

Democratic Senate candidate Tammy Baldwin's latest ad, which rails against cuts to Medicare and Social Security, is drawing cries of dishonesty from Republicans.

In the ad, titled "Rock," Baldwin says her upbringing by her grandparents taught her the value of those programs for the elderly.

"When people in Washington talk about slashing Medicare benefits instead of asking millionaires to pay their fair share, I know it's wrong," Bladwin says in the ad.

Republicans were quick to respond.

After the ad was released Monday, the Republican Party of Wisconsin fired a press release claiming that her support for the Affordable Care Act — so called "Obamacare" — doesn't gel with her pro-Medicare message.

"While pointing fingers at her colleagues across the aisle, she once again refuses to admit or discuss the fact that this poorly thought out policy cuts Medicare by more than half a trillion dollars," the RPW statement read.

The campaign of Tommy Thompson, one of four Republicans running for the Senate seat, blasted Baldwin's vote against Medicare Advantage, which, the campaign said, affected more than 200,000 people in Wisconsin.

Democrats Blame Tea Party for 'Out-of-Control' GOP Primary

If you're bogged down trying to follow the crowded GOP field vying for the  Senate nomination, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin says the far fright is to blame.

In a press release citing Thompson's former support for the Affordable Care Act, Eric Hovde's connection to bank bailouts and Mark Neumann's reciept of stimulus money, Wisconsin Democrats claim that those GOP contenders are overlooking the major issues facing Wisconsin in their quest to satisfy Tea Parties and "extremists."

"It is clear that the candidates for the Republican Senate nomination will talk about anything but the bread-and-butter issues facing average Wisconsinites as they worry about their economic security," Democratic Party chairman Mike Tate said in the release.

Thompson Picks Up Endorsement from Dairy Group

The Dairy Business Association of Wisconsin endorsed Thompson Monday, citing his pro-dairy record as Wisconsin governor.

"Tommy has a history of getting results," read a press release from the group. "DBA is confident he will continue to work to reform the federal government by repealing Obamacare, putting a hard cap on government spending and reducing the deficit so we all have a brighter future."

The dairy association went so far as to attribute the health of Wisconsin's dairy industry to Thompson's actions as governor.

"Tommy led the charge to improve rural Wisconsin by setting policies that encouraged farming profitability, creating the vibrant $26.5 billion dairy industry we have today," group President Jerry Meissner said.