Grothman Considering Run Against Feingold
Ummm…. no.
Speculation on a possible challenger for U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold has conservatives casting an eye toward state Sen. Glenn Grothman, a West Bend Republican.
I like Grothman. I’ve supported him. I’ve donated to him. I’ve voted for him. I agree with him on most, if not all, issues. But he doesn’t stand a chance against Feingold.
I’m not convinced that this is not the time to unseat Feingold….maybe with a bale of dirty rags. I may be ‘just sayin’ here”, but this may be the best opportunity.
Posted by Steve on January 30, 2010 at 2314 hrs
Westlake at least raised $25k before giving up the money race.
Grothman is a notoriously bad fundraiser. He just filed his January report. He has $7200 on hand and $5200 in debt.
He’s almost done before he starts.
I agree - NO.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 30, 2010 at 2352 hrs
It’s sad that a candidate’s fund raising ability is a major factor. I’d bet there is a high correlation between candidates with a lot of money and how much of your money they spend once in office.
I think you underestimate Glenn. Others have to their misfortune. He needs advisors.Posted by Charlie Hillman on January 31, 2010 at 0137 hrs
People said Scott Brown didn’t have a chance either ... And if I recall, was running his campaign on next to nothing, until he closed in the polls, and then the money tumbled in. I certainly think Grothman would be capable of running a similar campaign ... and if he gets any traction, you can bet that the RNC and Republican Senate Campaign will put resources in.
Now obviously there are a lot of differences. Brown was running for an open seat (albeit the “Kennedy Seat”, and against a candidate who certainly had the air of incumbency)... it was the only election in the country, so when it started to be come clear that he had a chance, money poured in from all over, because there were no other races competing for the donations ... and from what I can gather, Scott Brown had a bit more name recognition statewide than Grothman does here.
I know a lot of people are sitting on the sidelines waiting to find out if Tommy jumps in. But at some point here pretty soon, some more electable candidates are going to have to get in this race, regardless of what he does ... and short of Tommy or Paul Ryan ... every possible candidate faces the uphill battle of trying to raise money facing a seemingly entrenched incumbent like Feingold, and having a name recognition issue statewide. That being the case, Grothman is just as good a candidate as anyone else I can think of, including Nueman, to take him on. Somebody credible needs to be on the ticket in the fall. He certainly is preferable to the two guys declared now.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 31, 2010 at 0334 hrs
People said Scott Brown didn’t have a chance either ... And if I recall, was running his campaign on next to nothing, until he closed in the polls, and then the money tumbled in. I certainly think Grothman would be capable of running a similar campaign ... and if he gets any traction, you can bet that the RNC and Republican Senate Campaign will put resources in.
Now obviously there are a lot of differences. Brown was running for an open seat (albeit the “Kennedy Seat”, and against a candidate who certainly had the air of incumbency)... it was the only election in the country, so when it started to be come clear that he had a chance, money poured in from all over, because there were no other races competing for the donations ... and from what I can gather, Scott Brown had a bit more name recognition statewide than Grothman does here.
I know a lot of people are sitting on the sidelines waiting to find out if Tommy jumps in. But at some point here pretty soon, some more electable candidates are going to have to get in this race, regardless of what he does ... and short of Tommy or Paul Ryan ... every possible candidate faces the uphill battle of trying to raise money facing a seemingly entrenched incumbent like Feingold, and having a name recognition issue statewide. That being the case, Grothman is just as good a candidate as anyone else I can think of, including Nueman, to take him on. Somebody credible needs to be on the ticket in the fall. He certainly is preferable to the two guys declared now.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 31, 2010 at 0334 hrs
Opps ... sorry about the double post ... not sure how that happened.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 31, 2010 at 0335 hrs
Glenn should stay out of it. On a statewide level, he has very little appeal.
And, umm…for the record, part of the reason Scott Brown won is because he is a tall, good-looking guy, with a machismo appeal. I’m sorry, superficiality and image is often times a factor in these races.
And then look at Glenn.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 31, 2010 at 0743 hrs
Small part of the reason PP. There was so much promised by the Democrats, nearly none of which was delivered.
Same applies here. Voters are tired of their elected reps coming to “Listening Sessions” and not listening. Not that the GOP is much better (I did go to a Sensenbrenner Town Hall. He didn’t infer the Constituents were too dumb to “get it”, like Feingold, but I digress). At any rate, Feingold is vulnerable this year and it may be the best chance.
Posted by Steve on January 31, 2010 at 0850 hrs
I’m not saying Feingold is not vulnerable; I’m saying a goofy looking, poorly-dressed, Mr. Magoo, hard right conserative would not be pleasing to the electorate’s pallet. That’s all.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 31, 2010 at 0948 hrs
Any word on Tommy! ??
Rassmussen polled last week and had Thompson beating Feingold…
Tommy! ain’t pure, but he also ain’t Feingold.
Just sayin’...
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 31, 2010 at 1116 hrs
That’s one I struggle with. I think Tommy! stands a very good chance of upsetting Feingold. I’d vote for Tommy! over Feingold. But I don’t like Tommy!. He’s a big spender who supports nationalized healthcare.
Given how Tommy! has jerked us around in the past, I’m not going to bother thinking about it in any depth unless he actually gets in the race.
Posted by Owen on January 31, 2010 at 1119 hrs
Agree with Owen. Glenn shoudn’t run.
If we’ve learned anything the past 20-years it is that Wisconsin legislators are bad fodder in Senate races. Whether it was Susan Engleiter or Bob Welch, these type of people don’t have the name recognition nor personality to pull it off.
I think it is Tommy or bust.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 31, 2010 at 1308 hrs
I think you all are whistling past the graveyard.
Feingold will beat anyone who runs against him- and Tommy knows it
It won"t be a blowout-it never is with Feingold-but he’s enough of a maverick to fit the Wisconsin bill
As for Glen- a nice enough fellow to talk to-we agree on nothing-especially his insistence that he knows better than my wife and 3 daughters about what to do with their bodies.
He is an incredibly hard working aberration forced on wisconsin by the voters of this right wing community.
Talk about it amongst yourselves-but Russ wins- and in your right leaning- but stable hearts-you know it tooPosted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 31, 2010 at 1324 hrs
I know that Feingold makes Mark all tingly, but he is very vulnerable. The maverick thing gets a little old.
Perhaps a Glenn makeover would be nigh on impossible, but I think there are other challengers out there who would stand a pretty good chance.Posted by Charlie Hillman on January 31, 2010 at 1410 hrs
The maverick thing gets a little old.
Yes, especially during a time when you are pretty much marching lock step with your party. Like, for example, when you come home and talk about fiscal restraint, but then in Washington, vote for raising the debt ceiling.
I’m not thrilled about Tommy! getting into the race either—we don’t need retreads, we need fresh new ideas and we need different people stepping up. While Westlake’s fundraising idea is goofy, it does resonate with a lot of people in this economy ... there is a disconnect with this ‘need’ to spend big money for elected office while people are getting laid off or are getting pay cuts. Westlake is at least saying use your money to feed your family, use your money to help another family in need, and I appreciate that message. It tells me that he is going to work at being fiscally responsible with our money.
Posted by hsgbdmama on January 31, 2010 at 1854 hrs
If someone doesn’t want to raise money, they at least had better have some name recognition. Don’t have to like it, but that is the way it is.
However I just heard that the White House just announced a budget deficit of $1.6Trillion .... for this fiscal year. Nice of them to news dump that on a Sunday night.
Tommy! isn’t great, but he’s better than Feingold. And I don’t see anyone without a ton of name recognition and/or a ton of money beating Feingold.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 31, 2010 at 1902 hrs
I think there is little chance of Thompson running.
I am sure Paul Ryan would have a good shot, perhaps even Neumann.Posted by Charlie Hillman on January 31, 2010 at 1932 hrs
Here’s Rasmussen report re:WI 1/26/10
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 31, 2010 at 1958 hrs
Paul Ryan has already stated that he would serve better as the ranking member of the House Budget Committe than as the Jr. Senator from WI; Neumann is another retread, as far as I’m concerned (and remember he lost to Feingold already, plus if he runs as erratic a Senate campaign as he is a gov. campaign ... no, just no).
Posted by hsgbdmama on January 31, 2010 at 2012 hrs
Horse: Interesting poll:
Mostly not happy with Obama. Mostly not happy with Doyle. Mostly not happy with economy. Not happy with every policy Feingold supports. But happy with Feingold.
Two words: Name. Recognition.
Posted by Steve on January 31, 2010 at 2036 hrs
What’s with all the exclamation points after ‘Tommy’? Is he a lavish Broadway musical??
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 31, 2010 at 2213 hrs
Feingold’s spent 18 years cashing in on the goofy, pledges on the garage door, skeletons in the closet, nice guy schtick he so carefully crafted to blow the doors off the ‘92 Dem primary and beat Bob Kasten in the general.
Steve hit it - people seem to like Feingold regardless of what they think of his positions. He’s going to be in office until the GOP can cultivate an equally big player to take him on. Unfortunately, the GOP’s only got one credible contender for any statewide office now, and that’s Scott Walker. Tommy enjoys seeing his name in the paper which is why he won’t comment on his plans either way. Paul Ryan isn’t going to risk his standing in the House in a head-to-head battle with Feingold. If he really wants to be in the Senate he’ll wait for Kohl to retire.
Sadly, the Dem bench is just about as bad as the GOP bench. Neither party has done a great job of building future candidates for statewide office, which at the end of the day is bad for Wisconsin regardless of who wins at the polls.
Posted by Recess Supervisor on January 31, 2010 at 2231 hrs
“Is he a lavish Broadway musical??”
Yes.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 01, 2010 at 1733 hrs
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