Tammy Baldwin endorsed by Herb Kohl in Wisconsin Senate race

While Republican warfare shifts to South Carolina, Democrats elsewhere are flaunting unity. In the Wisconsin Senate race, which shaping up to be a major contest, Sen. Herb Kohl has formally endorsed the presumptive nominee, Rep. Tammy Baldwin, to take his place.

The seven-term congresswoman “has served our state and our country with conviction, compassion and common sense, and she will be an excellent senator who will make Wisconsin proud,” Kohl, who is retiring after decades in office, said in a statement.

“We can all trust Tammy to stand up for the people of our great state and for the values we all share.”

Kohl’s retirement is leaving an open seat in a political hotbed. Democrats are continuing their campaign to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker and the state is expected to be a presidential battleground.

Republicans have yet to unite behind their Senate candidate. Former Gov. Tommy Thompson, former Rep. Mark Neumann and GOP state Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald have launched bids.