Baldwin Enters Wisconsin Senate Race

[midnight]

Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., officially announced her Senate candidacy Tuesday morning, giving Democrats a top candidate with the ability to raise considerable funds as the party tries to hold the seat of retiring Sen. Herb Kohl.

"The middle class is getting slammed and no one seems to be listening. Well, I'm listening," Baldwin said in an email to supporters. "I think the political games have to stop and we should get this country working for the middle class. That's why I'm running for the Senate."

Baldwin has been gearing up for a run for months, even hinting at a Senate run in a prior fundraising email. She's the first Democrat to enter the race that already includes a Republican field that is shaping up to be crowded, with the recent entrance of former Rep. Mark Neumann and the expected entrance of former Gov. Tommy Thompson.

Baldwin is the early frontrunner on the Democratic side. She is also one of the few openly gay Members of Congress and after being elected in 1998, became the first openly gay woman to serve in Congress. She's one of the most liberal members in the House, according to National Journal vote rankings, and is expected to receive strong support from party activists.http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/09/baldwin-enters.php