Posted on 11/06/2002 12:51:56 PM PST by joesnuffy
By Anita Weier November 6, 2002
A joyous crowd of about 350 people welcomed U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin to a victory party at Fyfe's Corner Bistro on Tuesday night.
Shouts of "Tammy! Tammy!" drowned out the lyrics of "I'll Take You There" as Baldwin, 40, entered a room decorated with red balloons and banners, shaking hands and greeting friends and supporters.
Baldwin, a Madison Democrat, had soundly defeated Republican Ron Greer of Fitchburg, a pastor and former firefighter. With 99.7 percent of precincts reporting, the vote was:
BALDWIN...163,290
Greer...85,523
"I feel proud and gratified by the sizable margin of victory," Baldwin told the crowd, adding that she was even prouder because "we ran a positive, clean and energetic campaign."
She thanked her campaign staff and the nearly 8,300 volunteers and donors who helped her win her third term with 66 percent of the vote.
"I am particularly proud that we have built a powerful group of committed volunteers - the like seldom seen in politics today," she said.
Baldwin also gave special thanks to her "new friends" in the redrawn 2nd District. "I'll be down to Beloit tomorrow to thank you in person," she promised. She also thanked University of Wisconsin students who again came through by participating in "awesome" numbers.
"This victory means so much because this is a time of challenges," Baldwin said. "When I came into office (in 1998) it seemed like a perfect time, with opportunities to do so much. ... I now serve at a very different time. The surplus is gone. We are in one war and heading for another, and who knows what (Attorney General) John Ashcroft will tell us next."
She said she'll continue to oppose war in Iraq and corporate fraud - and that she'll fight for health care for all, affordable prescriptions and full federal funding of special education.
"I will carry our Wisconsin values of hard work and decency," she said.
As Baldwin toured the room after her speech, her mother, Pam Bin-Rella, said, "I'm really excited. It's wonderful. I am so proud."
Bin-Rella, who lives in Minneapolis, is a care manager and works with the mentally ill. She helped her daughter's campaign by answering phones and making some calls.
"I am her biggest cheerleader," Bin-Rella said. "I've watched her from the County Board on up. They couldn't have a better representative."
Former Madison mayor and current mayoral candidate Paul Soglin gave Bin-Rella a big hug and praised her daughter.
Soglin said Baldwin won by sticking to her principles. "That's very uncommon these days."
Astrid Newenhouse, a Madison horticulturist, assisted Baldwin's campaign as a ward coordinator. "I'm so excited to have Tammy back," she said of the re-election, as others whooped and cheered.
Greer's party at the Round Table in Sun Prairie was more subdued. He called Baldwin to congratulate her about 9:30 p.m.
By 10:45 p.m., Greer, his wife Rosalyn and a few loyal campaign aides were folding tables and packing up refreshments, after the 150 supporters who attended the gathering had left.
"I have some disappointment, but it's not as if we were caught off guard," Greer said. "Look at the resources we had."
His campaign manager, Dan Breed, agreed. "When you get outspent eight to one, it's difficult."
Greer said he plans to go back to trying to develop three houses where ex-convicts can live while they re-establish their lives in society. And he'll keep building the base he established in the campaign and may be back with another try for the 2nd District congressional seat in two years.
Rosalyn Greer said she would stand by her husband if he wants to run again. "But now it's time for a little rest," she said.
Published: 8:39 AM 11/06/02 Return to story
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What do you think, a six pack per vote? I know the college kids in my town would agree to those terms.
ROFL
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