


A GOP-backed ad attacking Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has been pulled from the air for including falsehoods.
The ad claimed Baldwin “cut Medicare funding and used that money to subsidize electric vehicles.” Democrats believe the ad was referring to Baldwin’s vote in favor of the Inflation Reduction Act, which did not cut Medicare but left Medicare benefits unaffected.
“This ad is just as false as the one that Hovde’s out-of-state backers were forced to pull down. Tammy Baldwin’s record is clear: She’ll always fight for every Wisconsinite and their families,” Baldwin campaign spokeswoman Jackie Rosa told the Washington Examiner.
The legislation made no cuts to Medicare and instead allowed Medicare to negotiate prices for the first time in the program’s history. It is estimated that negotiations could save the program $300 million.
The Restoration PAC, largely funded by GOP megadonor and Uline President Richard Uihlein, was forced to pull the ad off the air as television stations can be held liable for publishing libelous statements funded by third-party groups.
Under federal law, television stations and broadcast networks must air ads from campaigns so long as they are paid for. Stations cannot be sued for false advertising from candidates since they are forced to run them. They can, however, be sued for false ads paid for by third-party groups, such as the Restoration PAC.
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The race between Baldwin and the Republican-presumptive nominee, Eric Hovde, a businessman with California ties, is looking to favor Baldwin. According to a recent Marquette Law School poll, Baldwin is polling ahead of Hovde, with Baldwin garnering 52% of the vote and Hovde 47%.
Baldwin has served as Wisconsin’s junior senator since 2013 alongside Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI). Wisconsin is set to be one of seven highly contested swing states in the 2024 general election.