Thompson, Neumann, Target Hovde at GOP Senate Debate

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson and former Congressman Mark Neumann formed an unlikely alliance Monday, as both men attacked hedge fund manager Eric Hovde at a Republican U.S. Senate candidate debate.

This race has featured negative TV ads for several weeks now. Monday, the candidates attacked in person, though Thompson and Neumann largely left each other alone to go after Hovde. Thompson highlighted Hovde’s long residence in Washington, D.C., “Eric Hovde hasn’t lived here for 24 years and hasn’t voted here in 24 years and now wants to be the United States Senator.”

And Neumann attacked Hovde on Thompson’s behalf for saying recently that Thompson would have a hard time understanding the economy and financial markets, “Eric, if you’d been in Wisconsin for the last 24 years, you would have learned to respect our governor, Tommy Thompson. And I understand that campaigns are very difficult things, but last week when you questioned his intelligence I think it was over the top, and I think you owe Gov. Thompson an apology.”

Hovde shot back, attacking Thompson for overseeing a massive growth in government when he ran the state. And he smiled when he was attacked by Neumann, “You know, Mark, you’ve been a career candidate pretty much the last 20 years of your life.”

Hovde said afterward that criticizing his lack of a Wisconsin voting record was ridiculous, saying he didn’t vote often when he lived in Washington, D.C. because there were no conservative candidates.

Also running for Republicans is Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald. He largely stayed out of the fray, saying his record of advancing Gov. Walker’s agenda was what voters were looking for.