Republican Senate candidate downplays the impact of Harris' momentum on down-ballot races in Wisconsin
Republican Senate Candidate Eric Hovde downplayed the impact that the momentum of Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign may have on down-ballot races in battleground Wisconsin.
Hovde, who is favored to win the GOP primary to face Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin, called the energy surrounding Harris, “temporary enthusiasm.”
Harris campaigned last week in western Wisconsin with her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
“I think everybody on the Democratic side was very depressed about realizing how bad Joe Biden was from a mental capacity standpoint. So of course, you’re going to get that kind of bump. But look, I feel there’s enormous amount of energy on the Republican side,” he said, pointing to real issues that Americans are struggling with related to consumer credit and loans and food and housing costs.
“This state has always been a purple state. As we all know, every election is very close, but those people in the middle that decide this election, I think they’re struggling, and over half of America feels like they’re in a recession,” he said predicting voters would “break in a different direction.”
Asked by CNN about the potential impact on his race if former President Donald Trump, who has already endorsed him, continues to slip in the polls in the battleground state, Hovde answered, “my race from day one has been about running for the US Senate and my race. I appreciate President Trump’s support, and I’m supportive of his campaign.”
The Wisconsin businessman, who has trailed Baldwin in statewide polling, said he’s “not getting caught up in the polls at all,” pointing to how Trump won the state in 2016 after appearing to be behind Hillary Clinton.
No comments: