Posted Wednesday, July 18, 2012 --- 1:10 p.m.
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Fitzgerald says he would bring the same conservative leadership to the U.S. Senate that he has shown in the state Legislature.
Fitzgerald is the state Assembly Speaker. He's one of four Republicans running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl.
Fitzgerald said Wednesday he helped balance a $3.6 billion state deficit without raising taxes, he helped pass a concealed-carry bill and he defunded Planned Parenthood. He says he already proved his political courage.
A recent poll found Fitzgerald's support in the single digits, and he also trails in fundraising. He says he hopes the front-runners will continue to attack each other, creating an opening for him to attract voters
Fitzgerald's Republican opponents are hedge-fund manager Eric Hovde, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann.
Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.
