Sen. Candidate Says He Regrets 'Sob Story' Comment

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde says he regrets comments he made last week in which he said the media should stop writing "sob stories" about food stamp recipients.

Hovde last week said that the media should stop covering sad stories about low-income people who can't get benefits and instead focus on broader issues like the national debt.

Hovde said Thursday at a luncheon sponsored by political website wispolitics.com that he regrets making the comment. He says it didn't portray his true feelings and he has done more charity work than 99.9 percent of the population.

Hovde also says he believes GOP candidate Tommy Thompson is ahead in the race, but he intends to throw a "counterpunch" and he expects the Republican primary to turn nasty and ugly.

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