Go, Tommy, go!
Former Gov. Tommy Thompson is weighing a run for the U.S. Senate against Russ Feingold, the Senator from Al Qaeda, in November.
Former Wisconsin Gov. and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson is still considering a challenge to Sen. Russ Feingold (D).
In a brief interview Wednesday about the possibility of a Senate run this year, Thompson, a Republican, would only say: “I’m not saying no.”
The former governor mused last fall about a potential gubernatorial or Senate run, but if he does mount a campaign this year, it’s now almost certain to be a run against Feingold.
A Thompson-Feingold contest could become one of the country’s marquee matchups. Republicans have so far been unable to recruit a top-tier challenger to take on Feingold, who is one of the body’s most liberal senators.
That Thompson is seriously weighing a bid against Feingold illustrates how promising Republicans believe this November could be for the party. After Scott Brown’s shocking win Tuesday in the Massachusetts special Senate election and victories in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial contests last November, GOP officials believe it will become easier to woo potential candidates.
Tommy has some baggage. He was a prolific spender as governor but still advocated policies that led to economic prosperity here, something his elected successor, Jim Doyle, has not done. In fact, on Doyle’s watch, the governor and the Democrat-run legislature have run the state’s economy into the ground. Taxes, spending, regulations, now Doyle’s “green jobs” bill are combining to drive every last real job out of the state.
Plus, Tommy appears to have originally endorsed ObamaCare, along with Bill Frist and Bob Dole, but later the former Badger State governor and Bush administration HHS secretary said he was quoted out of context. I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Why? Because it’s critical that Radical Russ be sent into the private sector.
Seen Feingold’s attitudes at the (I’m not) listening sessions around the state? Smarmy, smug, arrogant, dismissive of the very people he represents. I spoke with a longtime source of information this week in the wake of the Massachusetts special election who reminded me that Feingold was one of the most disliked legislators in Madison, and that we saw the nasty side of Russ in the town halls. The likeable Feingold from the 1992 campaign? A mirage.
That said, the announced Republican candidates of Dave Westlake and Terrence Wall do little to light a fire under the Republican base.
This is not exactly senatorial:
It’s also a far cry from Scott Brown’s exciting, energetic campaign in Massachusetts. This guy isn’t raising money. He’s selling orange T-shirts on the Internet to fund his campaign. He’d be better off collecting aluminum cans. This is laughable.
This is a little more encouraging:
Wall, however, is a walking attack ad for the Democrats and Feingold. Lit might be legal via tax credits, business losses, etc., but Wall hasn’t paid any state income tax in five of the last six years. The campaign ads there practically write themselves. Plus, Wall ran for his village board twice and finished dead last. Is he really going to do any better against Feingold?
Wouldn’t you really like to hear this?
Isn’t it great to be a Republican?
That was Tommy’s signature line while governor. Tommy, the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin were on top of the world. You also really felt proud to be from Wisconsin. Anyone feel that way these days?
Bottom line: to take out Radical Russ, who needs taking out more than any Senator this side of Dingy Harry, is going to take big bucks. I just don’t think Westlake and Wall are capable of raising the amount of money it will take to win in November.
I know Scott Brown just proved conventional wisdom wrong in Massachusetts, but that was the Perfect Storm. Rising opposition to the Marxists in Washington, coupled with an energetic candidate in Brown, a terrible candidate in Martha Marcia, Marcia, Marcia Coakley and a well-run Internet and social media based campaign featuring money bombs caused enthusiasm for Brown to swell.
I just don’t see that happening with either Westlake or Wall. We need Tommy to toss his hat into the ring.
Kevin Binversie has more here at Lakeshore Laments.
Man, I don’t know what you have been up to, but when if you are ever out among the people of Wisconsin, you would here that they are sick of big money, classic style, say something ‘flashy’, have ‘big connections’ politicians. What Wisconsinites want is a statesman; someone to serve; someone to fight for them; someone to lead us back to conservative ways. Tommy is not a conservative or much of a Republican. He is part of what got our country where we are today…in trouble…he’s a progressive!!!
If Tommy doesn’t run, you have six more years of Russ Feingold. It’s that simple. Those other two have no chance of beating Feingold. One’s a joke, the other a proven loser with attack ads that write themselves.