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| Tammy Baldwin wins in Wisconsin as voters elect first openly gay senator | Tammy Baldwin wins in Wisconsin as voters elect first openly gay senator |
| (30 days later) | |
| Voters in Wisconsin broke through one of the last barriers in public life on Tuesday to elect the first openly gay member of the US Senate. | Voters in Wisconsin broke through one of the last barriers in public life on Tuesday to elect the first openly gay member of the US Senate. |
| Tammy Baldwin, 50, a liberal Democrat from the college town of Madison, narrowly defeated Tommy Thompson, 70, in a nasty, divisive and expensive – $65m – Senate race. | Tammy Baldwin, 50, a liberal Democrat from the college town of Madison, narrowly defeated Tommy Thompson, 70, in a nasty, divisive and expensive – $65m – Senate race. |
| Her victory helped Democrats keep control of the Senate. | Her victory helped Democrats keep control of the Senate. |
| It also assumes huge symbolic importance for the lesbian and gay community and for the left in Wisconsin, which had been beaten down in a series of battles with the state's Republican governor. | It also assumes huge symbolic importance for the lesbian and gay community and for the left in Wisconsin, which had been beaten down in a series of battles with the state's Republican governor. |
| "Tonight we have won a huge victory for Wisconsin," Baldwin said as the ballroom erupted in cheers and the clattering of cowbells. | "Tonight we have won a huge victory for Wisconsin," Baldwin said as the ballroom erupted in cheers and the clattering of cowbells. |
| Baldwin in her victory speech said she would be a champion for the middle class. | Baldwin in her victory speech said she would be a champion for the middle class. |
| "I am well aware that I will have the honour to be Wisconsin's first woman US senator," Baldwin before she was drowned out by a roar from the crowd. | "I am well aware that I will have the honour to be Wisconsin's first woman US senator," Baldwin before she was drowned out by a roar from the crowd. |
| "And I am well aware that I will be the first openly gay member of the United States Senate, but I didn't run to make history. I ran to make a difference. | "And I am well aware that I will be the first openly gay member of the United States Senate, but I didn't run to make history. I ran to make a difference. |
| "But in choosing me to tackle those problems the people of Wisconsin have made history." | "But in choosing me to tackle those problems the people of Wisconsin have made history." |
| In another rights victory, Maine and Maryland voted to grant same sex couples the same rights as straight couples. | In another rights victory, Maine and Maryland voted to grant same sex couples the same rights as straight couples. |
| Baldwin is the first woman to be elected to the Senate from Wisconsin. With her election, there will be 18 women members of the Senate, a new record. | Baldwin is the first woman to be elected to the Senate from Wisconsin. With her election, there will be 18 women members of the Senate, a new record. |
| "Oh my God, to have Tammy Baldwin in the US Senate!" said Katie Belanger, the executive director of Fair Wisconsin, a civil rights organisation. "For me, having someone who is out and truly represents Wisconsin is incredible. I don't even know that I have the words." | "Oh my God, to have Tammy Baldwin in the US Senate!" said Katie Belanger, the executive director of Fair Wisconsin, a civil rights organisation. "For me, having someone who is out and truly represents Wisconsin is incredible. I don't even know that I have the words." |
| On the campaign trail, however, Baldwin's sexual orientation barely registered with voters, although she has been out since she first entered politics. Baldwin herself insisted it was not a major factor in the race. | On the campaign trail, however, Baldwin's sexual orientation barely registered with voters, although she has been out since she first entered politics. Baldwin herself insisted it was not a major factor in the race. |
| Baldwin served 14 years in the House of Representatives, earning a reputation as one of the most liberal members of the Democratic party. She helped write write portions of Obama's healthcare plan, and voted for a climate change law. Both positions made her a target for Republicans. | Baldwin served 14 years in the House of Representatives, earning a reputation as one of the most liberal members of the Democratic party. She helped write write portions of Obama's healthcare plan, and voted for a climate change law. Both positions made her a target for Republicans. |
| She entered the race as an underdog against Thompson, who is seen as a father figure by many in Wisconsin after a quarter century in public life. | She entered the race as an underdog against Thompson, who is seen as a father figure by many in Wisconsin after a quarter century in public life. |
| Thompson, a four-term governor, was an old-style politician, incapable of leaving any hand unshaken. Baldwin does better talking to small groups or one-on-one, her supporters say. She spent election day at a pot-luck lunch in west Madison, and then huddled at home with her family watching the results. | Thompson, a four-term governor, was an old-style politician, incapable of leaving any hand unshaken. Baldwin does better talking to small groups or one-on-one, her supporters say. She spent election day at a pot-luck lunch in west Madison, and then huddled at home with her family watching the results. |
| But she was buoyed by support from national LGBT groups and environmental organisations, who poured money into her campaign, enabling her to keep her ads on the air. | But she was buoyed by support from national LGBT groups and environmental organisations, who poured money into her campaign, enabling her to keep her ads on the air. |
| In negative ads and in campaign appearances, she cast Thompson – who has spent the last 12 years as a lobbyist – as a hostage of the healthcare industry. | In negative ads and in campaign appearances, she cast Thompson – who has spent the last 12 years as a lobbyist – as a hostage of the healthcare industry. |
| Thompson labelled her as an "ultra-liberal" in his ads. | Thompson labelled her as an "ultra-liberal" in his ads. |
| Baldwin, in an interview the last weekend of the race, said: "I think like many elections it's coming down to some very basic questions. Voters are asking whose side are these candidates on." | Baldwin, in an interview the last weekend of the race, said: "I think like many elections it's coming down to some very basic questions. Voters are asking whose side are these candidates on." |
| On the night, Baldwin made a point of reaching out to voters who supported her opponent, telling a story about how Thompson, who knew her father in college, had been unfailingly cordial. | On the night, Baldwin made a point of reaching out to voters who supported her opponent, telling a story about how Thompson, who knew her father in college, had been unfailingly cordial. |
| In the end, however, Baldwin may also have been carried across the finish line by a solid base of supporters in Madison. | In the end, however, Baldwin may also have been carried across the finish line by a solid base of supporters in Madison. |
| "She's our girl," said Kate Peyton, who worked on Baldwin's first campaign for Congress in 1998. "We raised money, we knocked on doors, we fed volunteers." | "She's our girl," said Kate Peyton, who worked on Baldwin's first campaign for Congress in 1998. "We raised money, we knocked on doors, we fed volunteers." |
| She went on: "The culture has changed a lot. I just think there has been a sea change in how OK it is to be queer," Peyton said. "On the other hand, it never happened before." | She went on: "The culture has changed a lot. I just think there has been a sea change in how OK it is to be queer," Peyton said. "On the other hand, it never happened before." |
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