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FIRST ON FOX: Republican businessman Eric Hovde is using Democrat Sen. Tammy Baldwin's previous comments on Trump supporters against her as he looks to unseat her in the critical swing state of Wisconsin.
In a new ad by the Hovde campaign, Baldwin says, "Donald Trump might be one of the most offensive, hateful and unacceptable presidential candidates we've ever had. So what does that say about the people who support him?"
The remark, which is from a 2016 speech, is cut next to former Democrat presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's infamous "basket of deplorables" comment, which was credited by some with costing her the election to then-Republican nominee Donald Trump.
Hovde compared Baldwin's remark to Hillary Clinton calling Trump voters "deplorables." (Reuters)
The ad will run on television across Wisconsin starting Tuesday and is part of an ongoing multimillion dollar statewide ad campaign.
"Tammy Baldwin hates Trump and Trump voters, just listen to her own words when it comes to what she thinks about them. Much like Hillary Clinton, the disdain Baldwin has for Wisconsin’s Trump voters will haunt her on Election Day," Hovde spokesman Zach Bannon said in a statement.
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Hovde and Baldwin are facing off for a competitive Wisconsin Senate seat. (Reuters)
In response, a Baldwin spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement, "Tammy Baldwin fights for all Wisconsinites no matter who they are, who they vote for or where they live. That stands in stark contrast to her opponent Eric Hovde who has literally called Wisconsinites deplorable, Democrats a ‘curse to society’ and insulted our farmers, seniors, young people, women, Black men, Native American communities and more."
The Democrat senator's campaign also pointed to an interview on "The Jerry Bader Show" in 2016, in which Hovde used the word "deplorable" to describe the level of civic knowledge among average Americans, with many not knowing the year of the country's founding or who the vice president is.
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A woman dons a cheese hat with an American flag on it in Wisconsin. (Reuters)
In a recent Quinnipiac University poll of the Senate race, Baldwin beat Hovde 50% to 46%. The small, single-digit lead marks a significant closure of the initial polling gap between the incumbent Democrat and her GOP challenger.
The survey was conducted between Oct. 3 and 7 and included 1,073 likely voters. It had a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.
A top political handicapper, the Cook Political Report, recently shifted its Wisconsin Senate rating from "Lean Democrat" to a "Toss Up."
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Trump rallied in the traditionally blue enclave of Dane County, Wisconsin. (Getty Images)
In the latest Fox News Power Rankings, Wisconsin's Senate race was considered "Leans Democrat," with Baldwin still having an advantage.
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Split-ticket voting across parties has become increasingly rare, and with the Senate race coinciding with a presidential election, the winner could very well rely on which party takes the White House.
With roughly two weeks until Election Day, many have already cast their ballots early and by mail.
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
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