MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Twelve U.S. Senate races around the country are considered toss-ups Tuesday, including the Thompson-Baldwin race in Wisconsin.

Republicans need to gain 4 seats to take control of the Senate – and that’s why GOP supporters might have interrupted your weekend with almost constant phone calls.

The Center for Responsive Politics said Republican Tommy Thompson benefited from almost $6 million in special interest spending over the past week – while Democrat Tammy Baldwin only got $1.3 million in support.

The Federal Election Commission said outside groups have spent almost $46 million on the Wisconsin Senate race. That’s the second-highest special interest money among the U.S. Senate races, behind only Virgnia. And it’s much more than the $20 million spent by the candidates themselves as of mid-October.

That puts the total tally at $66 million and rising – not quite to the level of this summer’s Walker recall election, in which all sides spent around $81 million.

By the way, there’s a reason your phone went silent between noon and 3:30 p.m. Sunday. That’s when the Packers game was on –- and both Thompson and Baldwin say it’s not good to disturb a Cheesehead during the game.