WASHINGTON — Polls of the race for the U.S. Senate from Wisconsin consistently have incumbent Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat, ahead of Republican challenger Eric Hovde. The national political parties have poured huge sums into the race. At stake is whether Democrats will maintain their Senate majority. Television ads against Hovde have portrayed him as a wealthy and carpet-bagging California banker. The ads hone in on Hovde’s anti-abortion posture and his proposal to extend eligibility age for the Social Security to 72 and to deny voting rights nursing home residents. Baldwin has emphasized her Senate voting record over 12 years and before that her record in the U.S. House and the Wisconsin Legislature. Hovde ads have made slighting references to Baldwin’s “girlfriend.” Hovde has not held public office before. He ran for the U. S. Senate in 2012 but didn’t survive the primary election. Recent polls this cycle:
> September 15 to September 18: Baldwin 49%, Hovde 46%. 1,000 likely voters. Conducted by Emerson College. For The Hill newsletter.
> September 9 to September 18: Baldwin 50%, Hovde 43%. 600 likely voters. By Emerson College.
b September 12 to September 17: Baldwin 51%, Hovde 48%. 1,194 likely voters. By Marist College.
> September 12 to September 16: Baldwin 51%, Hovde 47%. 1,075 likely voters. By Quinnipac University.
> September 11 to September 14: Baldwin 51%, Hovde 47%. 600 likely voters. By Fabrizio, Lee & Associates/Impact Research. For American Association of Retired Persons.
> September 11 to September 14: Baldwin 46%, Hovde 39%. 626 likely voters. By Redfield & Wilton Strategies. For London Telegraph newspaper.
Campaign funding
As of a required July 24 reporting date:
> Baldwin: $30.3 million with $6.3 million cash on hand
> Hovde: $13.6 million with $3.2 million cash on hand.