In the aftermath of securing the Republican Party nomination for U.S. Senate candidacy, Eric Hovde’s wife has taken a significant role in his campaign by directly targeting Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin in a recent television advertisement addressing single mothers. The hotly contested race between Baldwin, a two-term incumbent, and wealthy businessman Hovde is garnering considerable attention in Wisconsin, considered a crucial battleground for the Democrats to retain control of the Senate.
This week, the focus of Hovde’s campaign shifted towards a more personal approach, with a series of ads featuring his wife, Sharon Hovde, discussing his philanthropic endeavors and his battle with multiple sclerosis. In response to a previous ad by Baldwin criticizing Hovde’s past remarks on single mothers, Sharon Hovde appears in a new campaign spot released on Thursday, rebuking Baldwin’s attacks on her husband.
The controversy stems from comments made by Hovde during his 2012 Senate run, where he suggested that being a single mother was a direct path to poverty, higher drug use, mental and physical health issues, and increased incarceration rates. Baldwin’s campaign previously released an ad featuring children of single parents condemning Hovde’s remarks.
In the latest ad, Sharon Hovde addresses Baldwin directly, highlighting her own experience as a single mother when she met Eric Hovde and emphasizing the challenges she faced in affording childcare. This personal anecdote aims to shift the focus away from Hovde’s controversial statements towards criticizing Baldwin’s campaign tactics.
Baldwin’s campaign stood by their attack ad on Hovde, with spokesperson Andrew Mamo defending it as a reflection of Hovde’s own words and character. The involvement of a candidate’s spouse in such a prominent role in campaigning is not common, according to Kelly Dittmar from Rutgers University. However, in cases where it does occur, it is typically to address criticisms or weaknesses of the candidate, as seen in Sharon Hovde’s response to defend her husband against Baldwin’s accusations.
The utilization of spouses in political campaigns when a male candidate is running against a female opponent is not a new strategy, as it can deflect criticism that may arise from direct attacks made by men against women candidates. By having a female family member deliver the message, candidates hope to navigate potential backlash more effectively.
