The New York Times reminds us how nasty and expensive the U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin is already becoming:
The attack ads began in early 2017, planting doubts well ahead of the 2018 midterm elections. Against ominous background music and storm clouds, the Republican-financed spots hit Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin’s Democratic senator, over the Affordable Care Act, Iran and veterans’ health care.
By July, a Milwaukee radio station was carrying audacious ads about Ms. Baldwin’s support for abortion rights.
“Did you know one out of three babies aborted in America are black? One out of three. And Tammy Baldwin is a big reason why,” the ad said. “That could be the next Frederick Douglass or Rosa Parks or Martin Luther King they’re aborting.”
Then came the positive ads describing one of her opponents, Kevin Nicholson, as a former Marine; an “outsider”; a businessman; and, like Ronald Reagan, a convert to conservatism.
For many national Republicans, Ms. Baldwin has emerged as the top target in the 2018 midterms: Donors from outside the state are spending twice as much money on the race so far as on any other Senate contest this year, according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that tracks money in politics. Much of the money has gone toward television and radio ads.
The big spending doesn’t just signal that each party sees the Senate seat as winnable. It’s also a measure of intensity on both sides to prevail in Wisconsin after Donald J. Trump shocked Democrats in 2016 by being the first Republican presidential nominee to carry the state since 1984. National Democrats are bent on winning it back in 2020 — and getting Ms. Baldwin re-elected is a crucial step toward that goal.
The fight may become the most expensive Wisconsin Senate race ever: An analysis by the state Democratic Party found that nearly $10 million in advertising had already aired or been purchased by outside groups against Ms. Baldwin or in favor of Mr. Nicholson. (Mr. Nicholson’s camp put the number at nearly $9 million.) At least another $3.7 million in advertising is underway sponsored by outside groups in favor of Ms. Baldwin.
Where’s Nicholson getting his money to run these ridiculous ads? This guy:
In case you missed it, a new report from ABC News reveals that Illinois billionaire Dick Uihlein “is involved in almost every single one of the top spending super PACs supporting [Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kevin] Nicholson.”
With Wisconsin’s Republican U.S. Senate primary still four months away, the Illinois-based megadonor has already poured $17.4 million into 10 groups backing Kevin Nicholson’s candidacy.
“Out-of-state billionaire Dick Uihlein isn’t even eligible to vote in Wisconsin’s Senate election, but that hasn’t stopped him from pouring in millions into our state to try to buy Kevin Nicholson a U.S. Senate seat,” said Brad Bainum, DPW spokesperson for the 2018 Senate race. “Nicholson is bought and paid for, and committed to helping Uihlein get even richer.”
Of course, Nicholson isn’t the only GOPer with a billionaire sugar daddy:
Wisconsin Next PAC is out with a new ad supporting state Sen. Leah Vukmir ― the first pro-Vukmir ad run by a super PAC. The spot plays up her association with Gov. Scott Walker (R).
Wisconsin Next PAC has received $500,000 from billionaire businesswoman Diane Hendricks, who is also backing Vukmir. It’s also received $25,000 from an employee of ABC Supply, the roofing distributor that Hendricks chairs.
The super PAC is spending $575,000 to run the ad statewide on television and another $50,000 for digital spots.
Vukmir has the support of much of the GOP establishment in Wisconsin, including Walker. Nicholson is a less traditional candidate. Previously, he was best known politically for chairing the College Democrats of America and speaking at the 2000 Democratic convention. Since then, the Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran has moved to the right and picked up support from the Club for Growth, a group that promotes fiscal conservative policies.
By the way, Vukmir is trying to be the most pro-Trump candidate in the race:
A candidate for the U.S. Senate says stopping Wisconsin’s opioid crisis is directly linked to strengthening America's borders.
During a stop in Eau Claire on Monday, state senator Leah Vukmir said a recent tour of the Tomah VA Medical Center showed the facility is "focusing on true research" and said her prior experience as a nurse puts her in a position to fight against opioid abuse.
"We have to have resources and teaching for medical professionals. We have to have resources for dealing with people when they're in crisis and – again, going back to the biggest problem of all – we have to cut that illegal flow of drugs into our country," she said to WEAU 13 News on Monday.
Vukmir’s 5th state senate district encompasses western and northern suburbs of Milwaukee and is a part of the state which has leaned predominately Republican. However, recent elections in Wisconsin have garnered wins for Democrat or liberal-leaning candidates – prompting Gov. Scott Walker to want of a “blue wave” which could sweep across the state in future races.
Baldwin knows she has an expensive race ahead of her and she knows what she’s up against. But she will need to hype up her record and she’s proven to be an effective Senator:
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, worked to secure major investments to rural development programs that the Trump Administration proposed eliminating in the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2018 omnibus spending legislation.
“Rural communities across Wisconsin face challenges with infrastructure, broadband and creating economic opportunity. Too often, small towns get left behind as investors find it more attractive to go to the big cities. That’s why I prioritize fighting for strong investments in rural communities,” said Senator Baldwin. “Washington has spent too much time debating instead of making progress. I am proud that we were able to reverse proposed cuts and provide strong funding for the key tools our communities use to fund rural drinking water projects, broadband deployment and business development.”
Senator Baldwin worked across party lines in the Senate Appropriations Committee and successfully fought to reverse these cuts and include strong investments for rural America in the FY2018 Agriculture Appropriations bill. In January, Senator Baldwin met with the Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to share Wisconsin’s priorities for rural development and urge the Trump administration to invest in our rural communities. In total, Wisconsin received $627.1 million in rural development investments in 2017.
Let’s not let these right-wing billionaires take down Baldwin like they did to Russ Feingold. Click here to donate and get involved with Baldwin’s re-election.