The union bosses would back her to the tilt I don’t see a carpet-muncher from Madison appealing to the blue collar masses. Someone like Ron Kind would be much better for them.
If she’s the nominee then I would posit we don’t “need” Tommy Thompson should a younger and/or less “establishment” choice present itself.
Now that Feingold is out, it would be worth getting a younger candidate and conservative to run for the Senate. The problem is that there might not be enough enthusiasm for that individual to oppose Thompson because the primary campaign would be fairly tough.
Interesting point, but the only feasible such person I can think of is the state AG and he isn’t running. Two of the state’s GOP Congressmen are freshmen, two are elderly, and the only other one has said he won’t run.