MILWAUKEE (WTAQ) - Democrat Tammy Baldwin’s U.S. Senate campaign says one of its Republican opponents is already showing signs of desperation.

Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald’s camp told its supporters that Baldwin would try to use dirty tricks to keep Fitzgerald off the August 14th primary ballot – and for that reason, they’ll need thousands more nominating signatures than the 2,000 required by law.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel obtained an e-mail sent to Fitzgerald supporters by his campaign manager Steve Stanek which read in part, “The left-leaning Government Accountability Board accepted Mickey Mouse and Santa Claus as valid signatures when Washington-based unions were recalling Governor Walker.”

Stanek’s e-mail continued, “I have every reason to believe Tammy Baldwin and the GAB will be up to the same tricks in an effort to keep Governor Walker’s right-hand man, Jeff Fitzgerald, off the ballot for U.S. Senate. For this reason, we need to collect thousands of extra signatures.”

John Kraus of Baldwin’s campaign said he expects opponents to use “make believe” to try and win the election but, “To make things up in order to get on the ballot seems a bit desperate.”

Stanek replied that in today’s hyper-partisan atmosphere, all parties scrutinize nominating signatures – so they’ll need as many as possible.

The deadline for filing nomination papers is next Friday for the fall elections.