Story highlights Rep. Glenn Grothman, a Cruz supporter, came during an interview with Milwaukee news station TMJ4

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker praised the law Wednesday

Washington (CNN) A Wisconsin Republican congressman confirmed Democratic critics' claims Tuesday when he pointed to the state's new voter ID laws as a reason the Republican candidate will be competitive there in the general election.

The candid assessment by Rep. Glenn Grothman, who supports Texas Sen. Ted Cruz for president, came during an interview with Milwaukee news station TMJ4 at the Cruz campaign's victory rally Tuesday night.

Asked by reporter Charles Benson why Cruz would be able to turn a reliably Democratic state like Wisconsin red, Grothman said: "Well, I think Hillary Clinton is about the weakest candidate the Democrats have ever put up. And now we have photo ID, and I think photo ID is going to make a little bit of a difference as well."

Grothman pivoted back to praising Cruz and the interview moved on without any follow-up.

Democrats immediately jumped on the remark, citing it as confirmation of their allegations that voter ID laws pushed by Republicans are actually aimed at suppressing turnout, rather than at preventing fraud as advocates argue.

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