The Making of a Candidate

Wisconsin Interest Magazine (Wisconsin Policy Research Institute) ^ | November 15 - 19, 2010 | Christian Schneider

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In early April of 2010, Michelle Litjens, the chairwoman of the Winnebago Republican Party, found some local guy that was thinking of running for the U.S. Senate. She brought him down to a meeting of a handful of conservative operatives in Madison. He didn’t even know he was supposed to speak at this meeting, and patched together a few talking points in the car on the way down.

When Litjens introduced businessman Ron Johnson to the group, people rolled their eyes and checked their watches as he ambled through his reasons for running. There were already a few people thinking about running for senate, and even Wisconsin political legend Tommy Thompson was considering getting in the race. The last thing Wisconsin needed was another rich guy to serve as fodder for the Feingold political machine. Just who did this thin-faced, white-haired guy think he was?

Six months later, everyone found out who he was. He was Ron Johnson, Republican Senator from Wisconsin.

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This is a very entertaining behind-the-scenes look at the successful candidacy of Ron Johnson, the Senator-elect from Wisconsin.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

(Some adult language warning)

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Wisconsin ping!

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