Wisconsin businessman Eric Hovde is quickly closing the gap with liberal U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, as she continues to tie herself to the policies of President Joe Biden and is now voicing support for a “permanent ceasefire” in Gaza. Hovde is now in the margin of error against Baldwin.
The numbers came from a new Emerson College poll on March 21, which also found former President Donald Trump leading Biden in the key swing state of Wisconsin.
“Baldwin 45%, Hovde 42%,” Emerson College reported. However, the poll’s margin of error is exactly that margin, 3 percent. That means the race is a dead heat.
In February, the same poll found Baldwin ahead by 7 percent, showing how quickly the gap is narrowing as Baldwin’s liberal record is increasingly scrutinized, on Gaza, immigration, the economy and more.
“In a hypothetical matchup for U.S. Senate, 45% support incumbent Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin, while 42% support Republican Eric Hovde. Fourteen percent are undecided,” the pollsters found.
“Women voters break for Baldwin 50% to 36%, while men break for Hovde, 49% to 40%. Independent voters break toward Baldwin over Hovde 41% to 36%,” the pollsters found. “The economy is the most important issue for 35% of voters, followed by healthcare (11%), immigration (10%), threats to democracy (10%), education (9%), housing affordability (9%), abortion access (8%), and crime (6%).”
CBS 58 reported, “Baldwin voices support for permanent ceasefire in Gaza, drawing backlash and praise.” That comes after she was hounded on the campaign trail by leftist activists who support a permanent ceasefire that would prevent Israel from defending itself in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks that led to murders and rapes of Israeli women and children.
Trump is also gaining ground in Wisconsin, according to this poll.
“A new Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey of Wisconsin voters finds 46% support Donald Trump and 43% support President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election. Eleven percent are undecided. With undecided voters’ support accounted for, 52% support Trump, and 48% Biden,” the poll notes.
There has been a shift in the electorate. Biden was behind by 1 percent in Wisconsin in November 2023, according to the Emerson poll.
“Independent voters in Wisconsin break for Biden 42% to 37%, with 21% undecided,” Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in the poll’s release. “The race tightens among independents when undecideds are pushed: 51% overall support Biden, 49% Trump.”
