DARROW TOPS $2.27 MILLION MARK IN RACE TO UNSEAT FEINGOLD

DARROW TOPS $2.27 MILLION MARK IN RACE TO UNSEAT FEINGOLD Darrow Campaign Almost Doubles Number of Donors

WAUKESHA, WI – United States Senate Candidate Russ Darrow released an unofficial estimate today that his campaign will report raising more than $2.27 million on his March 31 FEC report. Of that amount, Darrow will report raising an estimated $1.26 million from individuals, with more than $300,000 raised from individuals in the first quarter of this year alone.

“My commitment to creating jobs, fighting for lower taxes, keeping our borders secure and making our health care more affordable is resonating with the voters across Wisconsin,” said Darrow. “The level of support that my campaign continues to receive demonstrates that the people of Wisconsin understand that Russ Feingold’s focus on campaign finance reform did not create one new job here in Wisconsin, it did not help to lower our taxes and it did not help to make our lives any safer.”

The following facts demonstrate the strength of support Russ Darrow is receiving from individuals across Wisconsin:

99 percent of all Darrow contributions are from individuals. 92 percent of all Darrow donors are from the state of Wisconsin. Darrow has received contributions from 3,379 donors. An increase of 1,630 donors since his December 31, 2003, FEC report. 70 percent of all Darrow donors contributed $100, or less.

The report will show that Darrow contributed approximately $550,000 to his campaign. Russ Feingold had raised $5.57 million for his reelection effort with more than $2.85 million cash on hand as of his December 31, 2003, FEC report.

“Russ Darrow gave his word to his supporters from day one that he was as committed as they were to beating Russ Feingold. It’s that easy. Russ Darrow is a man of his word,” said Darrow Campaign Manager Eric Schutt. “The Darrow Campaign will continue to focus on beating Russ Feingold. To do that, it will take a strong statewide grassroots network of support and it will take serious financial resources.”

The Darrow campaign estimates to have $1.27 million cash on hand as of March 31, 2004.

Rank	Location	Receipts	Donors/Avg	Freepers/Avg	Monthlies
10 locations total	$455	11	$41.36		$0.00	$8,850.81	562

The age is an interesting topic, one remembers Pres. Reagan's I won't use my opponents youth and inexperience comment. That really holds true here. Michels is too young and has no expereince in politics--expect that he ran against a sitting conservate State Senator a couple years ago and lost every town except his home town--that doesnt bode well for this race.
Darrow is just as conservative as Michels but speaking to the businessman side Darrow is the true businessman success story, Darrow started his own company.
Michels is not known throughout the state--there is no way he could beat Feingold.
Darrow has had dealerships in Milwaukee and Madison (the two liberal population centers) for over 30 years and has been very active in the community--he can sway some of those moderate liberal voters.
What is interesting is that people here in WI are trying to make Darrow seem like this old foggy but no one mentions that Michels has 3 children under 5--one would think that that would take a lot of time out of someone's life?

"Well, I'm guessing you probably want someone a little less socially conservative in Wisconson.

That said, I don't really give a crap. It's nice to dream, but this seat isn't in play realistically."

Outside Madison, Wisconsin is a fairly socially conservative state, and 6 of its 8 Representatives (including 2 of its 4 Democrats) are pro-life. I recall Darrow not being very straightforward on the issue of gay marriage, and I think that it would be a mistake for the Republican nominee not to take Feingold head-on on his social liberalism. I think the way to go in Wisconsin is a strong social conservative who is not 100% conservative on economic issues (Northern and Western Wisconsin are fairly liberal on economic issues, and will not want aid to farmers to be cut).

BTW, Feingold was reelected in 1998 with only 50.6% against conservative Republican Mark Neumann's 48.4%. Since then, the War on Terror has made Feingold's liberalism more dangerous than before. I think we have a good chance of pulling off the upset if we select a solid, well financed candidate. My impression was that Michels would be better than Darrow, but neither one could be counted out in a race against Feingold.

You make some really good points and while we all agree that times have changed since 1998 the voters here in WI still see Feingold as this Ind.-Mod. nice guy. And it does not help when the head of the Libertarian party in the state endorses RF.

That being said WI is interesting in that you have some large pockets of liberalism (Madison, Milwaukee), some large pockets of conservatism (Waukesha, Washington, Ozaukee, and the Valley) and you have the rest that is very moderate--especially the central part of the state--a lot of Mod. Dems.

It is an interesting state--but one thing that is true is that if the voters do not know who you are they are not going to vote for you and that is Michels problem--I have seen him and he seems nice enough but like you said I think there is a chance that Feingold could be replaced and I do not want to miss it with an unknown candidate when we have a true WI success story with great name ID and $$$ in Darrow.

Just my two cents and I am proud to do whatever I can to help Darrow defeat Feingold!

fleshwound, this month-old press release has just come to my attention:

Sen. Zien & Rep. Suder: Pro Life Republicans Should Rally Around Welch
3/3/2004

For Immediate Release March 3, 2004
Dave Zien: 715-874-6450
Scott Suder: 715-223-6964

Darrow, Michels past financial backing of Pro-Abortion Democrats make them unattractive GOP candidates

State Senator David Zien and State Representative Scott Suder today encouraged fellow prolife Republicans to rally around their colleague, proven pro-life Republican Senator Bob Welch in his race for US Senate. The two say past financial backing of pro-choice Democrats make them question the conservative and partisan credentials of Tim Michels and Russ Darrow who are also running for the post.

"Bob Welch has a proven track record as a champion of the right to life issue," they said in a joint statement. "While others running for the Republican US Senate nomination claim to be pro-life, and would be better than Russ Feingold, their past actions make us and a lot of other pro-life Republicans extremely leery of those claims."

Amazingly, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Darrow gave three contributions totaling $1,000 to Senator Russ Feingold in 2002 and 2003, and hosted two fundraisers for him on May 6, 2002 and April 25, 2003, which raised him even more money. According to data listed at the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign website, www.wisdc.org, this was not the only time Darrow helped finance the campaign of a pro-choice Democrat. Since 1996, when he was Attorney General, Darrow has contributed $3,000 to Governor Jim Doyle, Including a $1,000 gift to his gubernatorial account in January of last year.

Michels, who ran a vigorous campaign against pro-life stalwart Senator Scott Fitzgerald in 1998, helped Doyle in the heat of his campaign against former pro-life Republican Governor Scott McCallum. Again, according to information available at the Democracy Campaign website, in August of 2002, Michels cut the Democrat a $1,000 check.

"Actions speak louder than words," Suder and Zien say. "While they all claim to be pro-life, Bob Welch’s actions prove that he is, and Darrow's and Michels' past actions raise a lot of serious questions. We are pleased that pro-life Republicans are rallying around the campaign of Bob Welch. Bob Welch is the only Republican who can beat extreme pro-abortion Senator Russ Feingold and he will make a great United States Senator."

-end-

Paid for by Friends of Dave Zien and Taxpayers for Suder, Pink Van Gorden Treasurer

http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=11941

Have you heard anything about this? Darrow didn't just give money to Feingold, he hosted two fundraisers for Feingold's Senate candidacy, the most recent less than a year ago? I know businessmen sometimes need to "play both sides," but it certainly isn't necessary to host fundraisers for Senators you are thinking of running against in less than a year.

As for Michels, he's not without sin either, giving $1,000 to Doyle in 2002, but that could well be one of those "businessman" contributions. The fundraising allegations against Darrow are much more serious.

Darrow never hosted a fundraiser for Feingold--the idea that he did is just untrue.

Neither Michels nor Darrow's contributions matter. Especially for someone that also likes Michels.
Yes Darrow gave money to the guy he is running against--BIG DEAL, Yes Michels gave money to Doyle DURING the election for Gov--they are still our best hope to defeat Feingold. Better question is how do think Michels will defeat Russ Feingold? How is a far right candidate that is unknown throughout the state going to appeal with little money to the vast majority of the state that is Moderate and never hears about these candidates? Explain to me how Michels has any chance to win--because he is younger?

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