Baldwin urged to be more assertive in Senate race

During a campaign tour of the state this week, Democratic Senate candidate Tammy Baldwin was urged to be more assertive against her Republican opponents.

A backyard party for Baldwin in suburban Milwaukee was by and large a sedate and friendly event for the Madison Representative. But during a question and answer session, three supporters urged the often soft-spoken and typically pleasant candidate to get ready to hit back hard against unfair Republican and third party attacks. One man put his concern this way: “I think that’s one [way] of saying the word ‘lie.’”

Baldwin’s replied that over the next few weeks, she’s working on introducing herself around the state and building name recognition. She promises a spine of steel in responding to attacks, but mainly wants to wait until after the Republican Senate primary next month.

Prior to the primary, Baldwin says the Republicans will be brawling with each other, and she says she’s inclined to let them do that. But activist Democrats unhappy with the failure to throw Governor Scott Walker out of office say it’s important to go on the offensive in hopes of not losing a second U.S. Senate seat in two years.