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.

Republican U.S. Senate candidates gather for forum

MILWAUKEE -- Wisconsin's gubernatorial recall election may be front and center on the statewide stage, but there's another political fight going on in the background, as four Republican candidates are fighting for Wisconsin's soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat.

Kip Smith to drop out of race for U.S. Senate

RHINELANDER -- Kip Smith, a candidate for Wisconsin's U.S. Senate seat will formally announce his exit from the race Tuesday morning, May 1st.The Rhinelander physical therapist said in a statement that his decision is based mostly on the difficulty in raising money and cannot continue the campaign and risk the financial future of his family.With Smith out of the race, that leaves Eric Hovde, Tommy Thompson, Jeff Fitzgerald and Mark Neumann running on the Republican side, and Tammy Baldwin as the lone Democrat.Smith's statement is as follows:"This past weekend, after much prayer and discernment, I have decided to end my quest to be Wisconsin's representative to the United States Senate.

Eric Hovde speaks to Milwaukee Press Club

MILWAUKEE -- Republican Eric Hovde, the fifth and final candidate for Wisconsin's open U.S. Senate seat made an appearance Tuesday, April 24th at the Milwaukee Press Club, and once again, the economy took center stage.Four Republicans and one Democrat make up the candidate field in Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race.

Thompson raised $660,000 in start of 2012

MADISON (AP) -- A campaign spokesman for U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Thompson says the former Wisconsin governor has raised roughly $660,000 in the first quarter of 2012.

WI U.S. Senate Race: Baldwin raises $2M, Neumann $650K

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Candidates in Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race have until Sunday, April 15th to file their first-quarter fundraising figures, but some have already released their numbers.U.S. Rep.

Thompson unveils tax plan in Wis. Senate race

MADISON (AP) -- Tommy Thompson has released a plan to overhaul the federal tax system as he battles for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.Thompson unveiled a proposal Monday, April 9th, that includes limiting federal revenue to 18.5 percent of the gross domestic product, giving individuals the option of filing a single-page, 15 percent flat tax form and exempting households that earn less than $100,000 from capital gains taxes.He also would eliminate federal taxes on Social Security income, simplify the corporate tax rate to two brackets, 25 percent and 10 percent, and eliminate taxes on foreign profits that are reinvested in the United States.Thompson, state Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, investor Eric Hovde and former U.S. Rep.

Rudy Giuliani, Milwaukee Police Assoc. endorse Thompson

MILWAUKEE -- Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, endorsed Wisconsin's former governor Tommy Thompson in the U.S. Senate race Thursday, March 29th.Giuliani cited Thompson's leadership skills as one reason he's endorsing Thompson for U.S. Senate. "He was a great example to many other governors who followed him, and mayors.