Daniel Bice
MARINETTE – Want to see a veteran politician dance on the hottest issue of the moment?
Here is U.S. Sen Tammy Baldwin on Friday at A Place for Coffee, a Marinette eatery nearly 200 miles away from the capital city of Madison, where President Joe Biden was simultaneously speaking to supporters.
Biden was telling his crowd that he had no plans to drop his reelection bid, despite his disastrous debate performance against former Republican President Donald Trump last week.
"They're trying to push me out of the race," Biden said. "Let me say this clearly as I can: I'm staying in the race."
For her part, Baldwin — a Democrat, like Biden — spent 20 minutes telling 50 or so adoring supporters about her childhood, her political history, her most important pieces of legislation and her opponent, Republican millionaire Eric Hovde.
About everything, it seemed, except Biden.
Afterward, she met with TV and print reporters for a little more than two minutes.
But still, no Biden talk.
"I will tell you that I am focused on my own campaign," she said.
Told that Hovde had accused her of hiding behind her staff when asked about Biden, the second-term senator still ducked the question: "It's not my decision."
The Biden campaign announced Friday that it is going to be airing $50 million in ads this month in Wisconsin and other battleground states, but Baldwin declined to say if the TV spots will be a help or a hindrance to her campaign.
"I've been putting up my own political advertising," she countered. "I'm focused on traveling the state (and) meeting people where they are. And that's my focus."
I then pointed out that we've known each other for more than 30 years, going back to when she was my Dane County supervisor in the early '90s. Mostly, Baldwin has been straightforward and forthright in her comments over the years.
So for old times' sake, would Baldwin just express some opinion — any opinion — on whether Biden should run for reelection or step aside? Her response: "It is his decision."
So Baldwin's political dance continues.
Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 313-6684 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on X at @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.
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