Hovde calls Baldwin ‘rubber stamp’ for Biden in RNC speech

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde used his opportunity to address a national audience Tuesday night to connect U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin to the policies of President Joe Biden.

“America is struggling under Joe Biden and Sen. Baldwin has been a rubber stamp voting with him 95.5 percent of the time. You can believe that Biden, with Baldwin’s help, has weakened us in every way, making Americans less safe,” Hovde said. 

In a five minute speech before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Hovde said Baldwin, a Democrat, shares responsibility with Biden for the national debt, inflation and “allowing criminals and terrorists to enter our country” through the southern border. 

He said he and former President Donald Trump “will restore America.”

“Under President Trump, family budgets were more secure. Our border was secure. Our world was secure. Where Biden and Baldwin have failed, President Trump and I will get the job done,” he said. 

Hovde, who graduated from Madison East High School and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, made a point of saying his family has lived in Wisconsin “for more than a hundred years.”

The Democratic Party frequently refers to him as a California bank owner, noting Hovde is chair and CEO of the California-based Sunwest Bank.

“Nothing out-of-touch California multimillionaire Eric Hovde said on stage can change the fact that for months, Wisconsinites have heard him make disparaging remarks about folks across the state while pushing policies to benefit himself and his wealthy buddies,”  Democratic Party of Wisconsin Rapid Response Director Arik Wolk said in a statement. 

While the presidential race remains close in Wisconsin, several recent polls have shown Trump opening a slight lead over Biden since their first debate last month. Baldwin maintains a larger lead over Hovde. 

Two other speakers from Wisconsin addressed the full RNC crowd during the second night of the convention at Fiserv Forum. 

Former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, who is originally from Kenosha, encouraged delegates visiting Milwaukee to see the beaches of Lake Michigan, order cheese curds and drink beer. 

“As the former chair of the Wisconsin GOP and chair of the Republican National Committee, I know firsthand that Wisconsin is the nation’s premier battleground state,” he said. “And in November you’ll see Wisconsin stand with Donald Trump, and we will help send him back to the White House.”

James Crawford, the leader of the Forest County Potawatomi tribe, did not endorse Trump during his speech. But he connected the convention’s theme to tribal issues. 

“The growing use and abuse of illegal drugs are claiming countless lives on reservations across this country, and Native American women and girls continue to be exploited, trafficked, and subjected to violence at reprehensible levels,” Crawford said. 

“So tonight’s theme, Make America Safe Again, is especially important for us. I look forward to working with everyone here to make America safe again, to help us preserve, protect, and enhance our future generations.”