CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Wisconsin has emerged as a key swing state in this year’s presidential race, and Democrats are asking their Senate candidate in the state to help bring voters back into their favor.
Rep. Tammy Baldwin will speak Thursday night at the Democratic National Convention in an effort to rally support for President Obama and to help herself in a Senate race in which she is the underdog against former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson.
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Republicans have thrived in the Badger State in recent years — producing GOP stars as Rep. Paul Ryan, the vice presidential nominee, and Gov. Scott Walker — but Ms. Baldwin said she plans to put forward the message that Wisconsin voters are growing tired of conservatives who, she says, favor the wealthy.
“We want folks to know the Wisconsin that I know,” said Ms. Baldwin, who is scheduled to speak between 6 and 7 p.m. Eastern time. “There shouldn’t be two sets of rules for the wealthiest and the rest of us.”
Wisconsin Democrats are hoping to break a trend of high-profile losses in the state that has included former Sen. Russ Feingold’s 2010 loss to Ron Johnson and Mr. Walker’s 2010 gubernatorial win and recall victory this year.
A loss by Ms. Baldwin would give Republicans control of both Wisconsin Senate seats for the first time since 1957.
Mr. Obama is also in danger of becoming the first Democratic presidential candidate since 1984 to lose the state, as GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s selection of Mr. Ryan as a running mate has helped Republicans draw virtually even among Wisconsin voters.
