Farrow: door open for U.S. Senate run [WI]

Oconomowoc Focus ^ | May 27, 2003 | Don Clasen

[JohnnyZ]

City of Pewaukee ­- A year ago today Margaret Farrow moved into the newly remodeled lieutenant governor's office in Madison.

But Wisconsin's first female to fill the No. 2 position in state government vowed earlier this year that her 27-year political career had come to an end when Barbara Lawton was elected to succeed her last November.

Nevertheless, after being encouraged to oppose U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, who is up for election next year, she said she might invoke a woman's prerogative to change her mind.

"I am leaving the door open a crack," she said this week when asked if a resolution passed by the Wisconsin Federation of Republican Women urging her to oppose Feingold would be enough of a reason for her to throw her hat into the ring.

"I was surprised," she said of the endorsement. "I was not looking for it, but it was encouraging."

She said she had met with the Republican Women. "But I had no idea they wanted me to run," she added.

A straw poll conducted during the recent GOP State Convention in Stevens Point also may have influenced her. She won handily over other Republican hopefuls. "I beat (state Senator) Bob Welch by 100 votes," she said.

"It certainly is heartening to know you have support after 27 years," Farrow said Monday during a telephone interview.

The 68-year-old wife of John Farrow continues to maintain a hectic schedule. "I'd rather wear out than rust out," she said.

Farrow resigned her seat in the state Senate last year to become lieutenant governor under Gov. McCallum. However, Gov. Doyle and Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton were elected last November.

If elected to a 6-year-term in the U.S. Senate, Farrow, who celebrated her 68th birthday last Thanksgiving, would be 75 when up for reelection.

She would be joining a growing number of senior citizens in the Senate, including Wisconsin's Herb Kohl, who is 68, and Ted Kennedy, 71. Virginia's Robert Byrd is one of the oldest senators at 86.

"Herb Kohl and I are the same age," said Farrow. Kohl is not up for election next year.

Feingold is a youngster of 50.

Farrow, an avid fisherwoman, said she managed to find time in her busy schedule to fish for muskies on Pewaukee Lake last weekend.

While admitting that she has not made up her mind to enter the race for the U.S. Senate, she said she will remain very involved. "I want to get involved with whoever takes on Russ (Feingold)," she said.

She stays young-at-heart by continuing to stump for GOP causes at an age when you couldn't blame her for seeking retirement.

She kept busy teaching and working in real estate before she was elected to the Elm Grove Village Board in 1976. She followed by being elected village president and won seats in the state Assembly and Senate.

While leaders in the state's Republican Party expressed a desire to have younger people assume power, Farrow was among four members of the party former Gov. Thompson invited to oppose Feingold.

State Sen. Bob Welch of Redgranite; Assemblyman Terri McCormick of Appleton and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker are the others.

Walker, a former state legislator, said he is committed to running for reelection next year.

At the time, Farrow, who had passed up a weekend of fishing to attend the convention, said money would be a big factor in her consideration of whether to run against Feingold.

Although admitting she hasn't ruled out running again, she said this week, "I am in no way ready to make a decision."

[JohnnyZ]

Margaret Farrow is, at this point, the most likely GOP nominee in Wisconsin. She is a great pro-life conservative and would make an awesome senator. Yes, she's old (68), but she's still going strong! I'd compare her to Senator Jim Bunning, a elderly first-termer who has been a great senator for Kentucky.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Farrow would be a good candidate, but her age is problematic. At best, she might only serve one term. WI is rather notorious for never having elected (until 1998) a woman to federal office. Alas, the "breakthrough" candidate was the leftist lesbian Tammy Baldwin in the Madison House seat. "Moderate" Republican Susan Engeleiter ran against Herb Kohl in '88 when the legendary Bill Proxmire retired and probably would've won had Kohl not spent a billion dollars to buy the seat. Unless we can persuade one of the "young turks" in the delegation to run, we should get behind Farrow. Of course, the 800-pound gorilla in WI would be the best bet, but I don't think Tommy Thompson will jump in (I think it more likely he may want to challenge the current Governor in '06).

[Kuksool]

{the "breakthrough" candidate was the leftist lesbian Tammy Baldwin in the Madison House seat.}

Too bad the GOP couldn't convince Reggie White to run for that House seat. Maybe he could be talked into running for Bill Frist's Senate seat in 2006.

The fact that the GOP gave very little support to Ron Greer's Congressional campaigns was an outrage. If the GOP wishes to embark on minority outreach, then it ought to provide serious support to African-American candidates.

[Pubbie]

Rove should lock Tommy Thompson, Paul Ryan, Mark Green, and Mark Neuman in a vault, and tell them, they're not leaving or getting any food or water, until one of them agrees to run for the Senate in '04.

Oh sure, people may say this strategy isn't *Legal* or *Ethical* but a political operative has got to do what a political operative has got to do...

: D

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Too bad the GOP couldn't convince Reggie White to run for that House seat. Maybe he could be talked into running for Bill Frist's Senate seat in 2006."

As a Tennessean, I can tell you that ain't gonna happen. Both Reps. Marsha Blackburn and Zach Wamp are interested in the seat and it will probably go to one or the other. Harold Ford, Jr. will probably demand he be coronated after "gracefully" stepping aside in the last Senate race.

"The fact that the GOP gave very little support to Ron Greer's Congressional campaigns was an outrage. If the GOP wishes to embark on minority outreach, then it ought to provide serious support to African-American candidates."

It was an outrage, but I don't think that was an ideal seat for Greer to have run in. He was obviously not the Scott Klug-type of Republican that can win there. That was one reason why the GOP didn't loosen its pursestrings. I was similarly annoyed we didn't provide enough support to Lynette Boggs-McDonald in NV House-1, she was a much stronger candidate.

[JohnnyZ]

Both Reps. Marsha Blackburn and Zach Wamp are interested in the seat and it will probably go to one or the other.

I'd like Blackburn, please. Thanks!

[Coop]

I'd like Blackburn, please.

I'll make a few calls. :-)

[Coop]

Farrow, who had passed up a weekend of fishing to attend the convention

If that's not a sign she's serious, I don't know what is!

Do you honestly think Thompson is interested in running for governor for the umpteenth time? Yes, it would get him back to WI, but...

[Theodore R.]

Zack Wamp is a supporter of the John McCain "campaign finance reform" program, as was Fred Thompson. What do some of these Tennesseeans see in McCain?

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Farrow would be a good candidate, but her age is problematic."

---

At this point, we have to take whomever we can get. I don't know why nobody wants to run against Feingold (who barely won re-election in 1998, and who is too liberal for Wisconsin), but, alas, there we are. My #1 choice would be Tommy Thompson, with Paul Ryan a close second, but neither wants to run.

[Kuksool]

{It was an outrage, but I don't think that was an ideal seat for Greer to have run in.}

The WI-02 is definitely hostile terrain for Pubbie. After all it's Madison, the Berkley of the Dairy State. I guess I am sympathetic toward Ron Greer. He was an excellent fireman who lost his job to the Thought Police. When he ran for Congress in 1998, the RINOS torpedoed his candidacy. I am also upset that the white "religious right" failed to rally around him. Our apathy toward African-American conservatives in need, makes blacks wary of GOP outreach efforts. We need to stand with our African-American brethren.

FYI in September 2002, I attended a martial arts convention in Chicago. I happened to meet a couple of white liberals from Madison. We ended up talking about Ron Greer. The liberals had no flattering things to say about him or Reggie White. They even referred to them as a "dumb n_gg_rs. I was shocked at their attitudes. So much for liberals being enlightened on racial matters.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"The WI-02 is definitely hostile terrain for Pubbie. After all it's Madison, the Berkley of the Dairy State. I guess I am sympathetic toward Ron Greer. He was an excellent fireman who lost his job to the Thought Police. When he ran for Congress in 1998, the RINOS torpedoed his candidacy. I am also upset that the white "religious right" failed to rally around him. Our apathy toward African-American conservatives in need, makes blacks wary of GOP outreach efforts. We need to stand with our African-American brethren."

All good points. Another problem of his candidacy was the appearance of "wanting revenge" on the part of Greer, right or wrong. The GOP isn't big on backing "grudge match" candidates (they similarly yanked the rug out on B-1 Bob Dornan in '98 against Linda "Sanchez" Brixey in his reelection).

"FYI in September 2002, I attended a martial arts convention in Chicago. I happened to meet a couple of white liberals from Madison. We ended up talking about Ron Greer. The liberals had no flattering things to say about him or Reggie White. They even referred to them as a "dumb n_gg_rs. I was shocked at their attitudes. So much for liberals being enlightened on racial matters."

What's shocking about it ? Liberals are the biggest bigots around. I've never heard more intolerance come out of their hypocritical mouths. When they used that epithet, you should've told them that they were talking to one, and watch the pigs squirm.

[Kuksool]

The liberals were college students at the University of WI at Madison. I did call them on their racial slurs. Their spin was that they didn't mean to insult all African-Americans. They were merely making personal attacks at the moral beliefs of Reggie White and Ron Greer. Okay. Like Jesse Jackson would actually accept that excuse if a Pubbie made similiar comments.

Perhaps, I should have kicked their behinds. After all, I was at a martial arts convention. LOL!

[fieldmarshaldj]

"The liberals were college students at the University of WI at Madison. I did call them on their racial slurs. Their spin was that they didn't mean to insult all African-Americans. They were merely making personal attacks at the moral beliefs of Reggie White and Ron Greer. Okay. Like Jesse Jackson would actually accept that excuse if a Pubbie made similiar comments."

Yeah... A$$holes.

"Perhaps, I should have kicked their behinds. After all, I was at a martial arts convention. LOL!"

Go Bruce Lee on their asses.