For over a year, Wisconsin Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager has had to fend off attacks from her critics and to a lesser extent even some of her supporters questioning how she can win when she was caught on camera failing a field sobriety test for a police officer.

Now that officer says he'll vote for her.

The Capital Times is reporting that Officer Mark Handel plans to pull the voting lever marked "Peg Lautenschlager" this fall.  Their story reports:

It was Lautenschlager's subsequent demeanor, Handel said, that left him inclined to vote for her this fall.

Handel, who no longer works for the Columbus police, said: "I've pulled over many police officers, and a lot would start flashing their badges and expecting a break."

Lautenschlager did not. She cooperated, taking a field sobriety test…

Imagine if or when the ads attacking Lautenschlager do get run — Lautenschlager can now counter with the cops own words and with him essentially saying that she's a good person who expected no special treatment.

You have to admire that Lautenschlager faced the challenges of that fateful evening with grace despite the intense stress she must have been feeling.  Handel's comments offer us some real insight as to what type of person Lautenschlager is.  As this campaign continues to unfold, Peg is looking more and more like a viable candidate whose challenges could be overcome.

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Post Publication Update:  You can listen to the entire podcast of the AG Debate Program, including the section where the cop who arrested Lautenschlager called in, on Madison's AM 1670, The Pulse.