Hovde says comments were misinterpreted

MADISON (AP) -- Political newcomer Eric Hovde says he regrets comments he made about the media writing 'sob stories' regarding food stamp recipients because they've been widely misinterpreted.

The Republican U.S. Senate candidate last week said the media should stop providing stories about low-income people who can't get benefits and instead focus on broader issues such as the national debt.

Hovde said Thursday at a luncheon sponsored by wispolitics.com, a political website, that he regrets his comment. He said it doesn't show his true feelings and he has done more for charities than 99.9 percent of the population.

Hovde also says focusing on his comments distracts from the issue of the threat of an economic collapse that would devastate the poor and middle class.

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