WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAU) - U-S Senate candidate Eric Hovde cleared his campaign schedule today, so he could talk to attorneys about a possible lawsuit over a T-V ad put out by an independent group.

The Americans for Job Security took out the ad, saying a computer software company owned in part by the Republican Hovde took over two-million dollars in federal stimulus money. Hovde’s campaign denied it earlier in the week. It said the company’s business customers might have taken stimulus cash – but not e-Plus, of which Hovde serves as a board member.

Hovde says he blames his primary opponent Tommy Thompson for the ad. He said Thompson’s campaign and the Job Security group have use the same consulting firm – and Hovde said it’s clear the two coordinated the ad, even though such coordination is illegal.

Thompson consultant Darrin Schmitz said he hasn’t done any work for the Americans for Job Security in four years – and the group’s president confirmed that today. But Hovde said the connection was still clear. He said quote, “Are they all going to play us as fools, or little kids? … This is the very heart of why our political system is broken.”

Hovde and Thompson and running in a four-way Republican Senate primary on August 14th. Also today, G-O-P candidate Mark Neumann received a major endorsement from the Tea Party Express – which has been helping conservatives win G-O-P primaries around the country.