Fitzgerald to launch first ad in Senate race

Primary election is Aug. 14

MADISON, Wis. — Lagging in the polls with less than two weeks before the U.S. Senate Republican primary election, Jeff Fitzgerald will launch his first television ad.

Fitzgerald announced Thursday that the ad will start running on Monday only in the Milwaukee and Green Bay markets, a limited buy that pales in comparison to what his competitors have done.

Fitzgerald faces former Gov. Tommy Thompson, former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann and hedge fund manager Eric Hovde in the Aug. 14 primary.

Fitzgerald’s ad features footage from the protests in the Capitol last year over Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal curbing collective bargaining rights. Fitzgerald helped pass the bill as speaker of the Assembly.

The ad shows Fitzgerald touting the changes and shaking hands with Walker, played over dramatic music.