Baldwin Hits Thompson in Convention Speech

By Steven Shepard  //  September 6, 2012 | 7:04 p.m.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Rep. Tammy Baldwin, citing Wisconsin's "proud progressive tradition," directly challenged her Republican rival for the Badger State's open Senate seat in her speech to the Democratic National Convention here Thursday evening.

Baldwin mentioned Tommy Thompson by name in her speech, linking the former Wisconsin governor and secretary of Health and Human Services to three more prominent Republicans: Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan and Gov. Scott Walker.

"I'm here to tell you that they don't speak for all of Wisconsin," Baldwin said of her GOP foils.

Repeatedly, Baldwin said that "the Wisconsin I know" does not support the policies championed by these prominent Republicans -- despite GOP gains in the state since 2010, including Walker's victory in this year's recall election.

On the GOP's plan to cut taxes even for the wealthiest Americans, Baldwin said, "The Wisconsin I know knows that their plan will only bust our budget, not boost our economy."

And on gay rights, Baldwin said: "The Wisconsin I know believes that with each passing year and each generation our country must become more equal, not less." But it was Baldwin's attacks on Thompson -- and tying Thompson to those other Republicans -- that were most notable. Thompson, she said, "cashed in on his special interest connections" in Washington, "and never really came back." The crowd, which booed lustily for Ryan and Walker, offered little reaction to the first mention of Thompson, however. Baldwin's tack diverged from Elizabeth Warren, the Senate nominee in Massachusetts who did not mention her opponent, Sen. Scott Brown, in her speech Wednesday night.

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