Democratic nominee for the Wisconsin state Assembly District 42, Fred Clark, was supported by U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, as he spoke to about 50 supporters as part of a fundraiser at the Garden Party on Wednesday afternoon.

"The 42nd District trends Democratic in most cases," Clark said. "Tammy Baldwin wins here. The fact we haven't had a Democratic Assemblyman says to me nobody was in place to present the right idea.

"I know there are going to be a lot of people who voted Republican who will vote differently now," he said. "I left forestry because I really thought what we're doing in state legislature is not meeting the needs."

In addressing his campaign issues, Clark said his plans for health care differ greatly from his opponent.

"(Rep. J.A. Hines, District 42 incumbent) has supported an approach to health care that is very much free-market based," Clark said. "I believe frankly, that that would be a disaster."

Baldwin said Clark is one of three candidates in Wisconsin with the ability to swing the majority in the Democrats' favor in the legislature.

"We have the opportunity with this race, and just a couple others if we win, to set that same new course in the Wisconsin State Assembly," she said.

When Baldwin took questions from the audience, it appeared the economy was hot on people's minds. The first two audience members to speak referred to the economy, and one asked her why she voted yes to a $700 billion bailout package.

"If there is no intervention this could be an economic crisis like one most of us haven't seen before," Baldwin said. "I hear it from my constituents. I believe this crisis is real.

"The work we did — over the 10 days from when the president asked for money — has transformed this bill entirely," she said.

She described four safeguards she said were included in the proposed bill that failed in the House and noted, that the initial expenditure was cut in half to $350 billion — with half of it to be awarded after congressional review of the financial progress of companies.

She expected Congress to investigate how the country got in a crisis, and she was hopeful a better bill could be crafted.

If you go

What: Open forum featuring Republican incumbent Rep. J.A. "Doc" Hines and Fred Clark presented by the Baraboo Chamber of Commerce

When: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 23

Where: UW-Baraboo/Sauk County campus