Hovde Looks Good For Wisconsin

Given the Tea Party's affinity for choosing non establishment, young, achievers Eric Hovde looks, at least from here, to be the perfect candidate. In the latest PPP poll he holds a modest 2 point lead over the 4 man field. He gathers 36% of the Tea Party vote compared to 21% each for Neumann and Thompson and 17% for Fitzgerald. Among all Republican voters the race breaks down; Hovde at 27%, Tommy Thompson's at 25%, Mark Neumann's at 24%, and even Jeff Fitzgerald isn't that far behind the rest of the pack at 15%. The winner will face Tammy Baldwin who hopes to be the first openly gay senator. Presently Hovde is 2.2 points behind Baldwin in the RCP average of polls.



Knowing the recent temperament of Wisconsin voters, it's likely that Hovde with an excited Tea Party base behind him could quickly overcome a 2 point deficit. Hovde has a background in banking, a work experience that is in short supply in a Senate that is perpetually out of its depth in all thing financial. Only newly elected Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota has banking experience. Hovde founded his own hedge fund. From the Hovde Foundation web site:
"Eric Hovde is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hovde Capital Advisors LLC, an asset management firm, and President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Hovde Private Equity Advisors LLC, a private equity firm. Both firms are focused exclusively on the financial services sector. Mr. Hovde is responsible for the investment strategy and day-to-day oversight of the portfolio investments managed by Hovde Capital Advisors LLC and, along with the portfolio manager, directs Hovde Private Equity Advisors investment process and provides oversight to portfolio companies for the firm’s private equity fund. In these capacities, Mr. Hovde provides the investment teams with strategic direction and guidance in their investment decisions."
The Wisconsin Senate seat is currently in Democratic hands, held by retiring Herb Kohl so a Hovde win in the general election would put the Republicans one step closer to controlling the Senate. But switching parties is not good enough. There must be a dramatic shift in ideology. With Hovde joining Ted Cruz from Texas, Deb Fischer from Nebraska, Tom Smith from Pennsylvania and Josh Mandel of Ohio the Tea Party can be justifiably proud of the field it's backing.