With Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s victory in last week’s recall election, Republicans seem more certain now than ever they can win the U.S. Senate seat now held by retiring Democrat Herb Kohl.
Politico reported Monday the seat is one of about six Republicans are counting on to help them take back control of the Senate, and whoever emerges from the GOP primary in August is expected to be a favorite in the race against Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin, who wants to inherit Kohl’s seat.
“This is absolutely going to be easier for Republicans to pick up,” former four-term Gov. Tommy Thompson, one of four GOP candidates vying for the nomination, told Politico.
“No question,” agreed Eric Hovde, a hedge fund manager who is also running in the GOP primary. “I think whoever comes out of the [primary] is going to carry it.”
Recent polls show that at least three of the four Republican primary contenders — the others include, former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann and state assembly speaker Jeff Fitzgerald — are at the moment leading Baldwin heading into the summer, Politico reported.
But the online news organization also noted that Democrats would be focusing heavy attention on Wisconsin as well because it’s considered a key element in maintaining their majority.
“For Democrats, Wisconsin — as well as Ohio — might end up being the firewall that saves their grasp on the Senate majority,” Politico said.
Baldwin, a seven-term congresswoman, also suggested to Politico that Republicans might want to be careful about overplaying their hand in the Senate race.
“They are already closely associating themselves with Walker and saying they want to bring his agenda to Washington and impose it on a national level,” she said. “People have had enough of the polarization. People are ready to move on.”
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