Saturday, May 02, 2009

Primary Notes

Scott Walker is lining up the party’s support:

GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker announced more endorsements from party leaders today.

More than 150 current and former local and state party leaders are backing the Milwaukee County executive in his bid for the 2010 party nomination, Walker’s campaign announced.

That includes about three of every four county chairs and two-thirds of the state executive committee, the campaign said.

On Friday, the campaign announced that 46 of 61 current Republican state lawmakers are endorsing Walker.

And Neumann is thinking about getting in earlier than he had planned.

Former Congressman Mark Neumann told reporters today he may accelerate his timetable for announcing a run for governor in 2010.

“We are getting a lot of pressure to move (the announcement) up,” Neumann said at the state Republican Party convention. “I’m really excited, guys. We’re getting really close.”

Neumann is also getting a log of pressure to run for Senator.

(8) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1315 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. I’d love to see Neumann run for Senate….that’d be an easy win for Feingold.

    Posted by Zach W on May 02, 2009 at 1343 hrs


  2. Walker is the right guy for the times.  He has a record of saying he will cutting taxes and control spending and then doing it.  Contrast is key in this election and Walker will have it with Doyle. 

    I got a chacne to meet Neumann at State Convention this weekend.  He seems like a good guy, but is way behind in the game.  He is where Walker was four years ago.  I think that following your heart is great, but you should also follow your head.  What is best for the party is if Walker has a clear shot.  It is all about dollars at this point and time.  Walker is the guy this time around and will need every dollar to beat Doyle’s machine.  I would like to see Neumann run for Senate.  It would be best for the party!  Tommey would also be a great Senate candidate if he decided to run.  Well, that is my two cents!

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 02, 2009 at 1526 hrs


  3. Neumann is also getting a log of pressure to run for Senator.

    That makes a heck of a lot more sense. I think he is a much better candidate for the Senate than Gov. He came damn close last time. If he got some better campaign advice and stays away from those stupid campaign agreements he makes with Feingold (that Feingold breaks anyway) he may win.

    Can he win against Feingold? Not if he doesn’t run.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 02, 2009 at 1608 hrs


  4. If the experienced hands agreed with your casual assessments of Scott Walker, why are so many of them coordinating Mark Neumann’s entry into the race?  Remember, these are people who, at the end of the day, understand well that there is always more political value for them and their clients in winning than in losing.  They’re not stupid, they’re not blind ideologues.  They just want to beat Jim Doyle.

    I’d be willing to say most of the ex-TGT people have hated Doyle longer and more passionately than most of you.  Your dislike of Doyle is visceral.  For Tommy’s people, Doyle is the man who is systematically undoing 14 years of their work - whether it’s school choice, welfare reform, QEO, you name it.  You don’t think that stings a little bit more?

    Walker’s the easy horse to ride - he’s practically been running for governor ever since he was elected County Exec.  So why aren’t the power brokers and money people hopping on?  Are these people stupid for being reluctant, or do they just see problems with a Walker candidacy that you don’t?

    I don’t know the answers, but the questions are worth contemplating.

    Finally, Neumann (or anyone with serious statewide ambition) would be crazy to waste his time running against Feingold.  Like it or not, Russ is a popular three-term incumbent and will be in office until he decides to leave.  If what Neumann really wanted was a Senate run, he’d be wise to wait until 2012, when he’d either be running for an open seat or against a do-nothing, 77-year-old Herb Kohl.  While Kohl has personal wealth, that money can’t make him any younger.  Kohl’s advancing age will be an enormous unspoken issue in that race, should he decide to run for re-election.

    Posted by Recess Supervisor on May 03, 2009 at 0326 hrs


  5. Excellent points, especially by Recess.  My two cents worth would be to point out and parrot the analysis of Mark Belling, that no one has won a governors general election without also carrying SE WI.  Only Walker can lay claim to popularity in this area of the state.  Neumann would have to spend every penny and fight like a junk yard dog to make dents in Walkers popularity here, and that would spell disaster in the general.
    Better for Neumann to maintain his name recognition, continue to curry favor with the party machinery, and gear up for Senate.  Contrary to many, I don’t think either WI senator is invincible, but especially Kohl.  Nobody’s senator but ours has become nobody’s senator.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 03, 2009 at 0836 hrs


  6. Who says power brokers aren’t backing Walker, just you.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 03, 2009 at 1720 hrs


  7. Where were all those alleged power brokers this weekend when Neumann was reintroducing himself to the GOP, home with the swine flu?

    Considering their primary interest is renewing their lease at the public trough it wouldn’t surprise me.  The only thing these guys are experienced at is enriching themsevles at our expense and going to any lenghts to do it.  That includes climbing into bed with Doyle on numerous occasions. 


    They have always hated Neumann and they are just helping him now ibecause they beleive he represents the biggest threat to Walker.  Either they plan to bring in a third “more acceptable” alternative later or would rather stay the course with Doyle.

    Klasuer setlled on Neumann after the Graber and Van Hollen trial balloons sank.

    And whatever happened to McCoshen running for Governor?  He said Neumann was his biggest primary threat and now he’s helping him?  Is he trying to divide the conservatives so he can enter as moderate later on or maybe he just wants to keep the East Wing in Dem hands for four more years while he gets his campaign together.  Good luck with that.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 04, 2009 at 1213 hrs


  8. Some of those names always made me laugh, especially McCoshen.  Lobbyists tend to not make great candidates for public office.  And Graber’s extended stay as GOP Chairman would probably do him more harm than good as a candidate.

    Posted by Recess Supervisor on May 04, 2009 at 1427 hrs


Commenting is not available in this channel entry.