Green Statement on Campaign Announcement byMilwaukee County Executive Scott Walker

Mark Green for Governor ^ | 3/25/2006

[Thunder90]

Green Bay - This evening, at the Fifth Congressional District Republican Caucus, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker will announce that he is withdrawing from the race for the Republican nomination for governor of Wisconsin.

In response to Walker’s announcement, Congressman Mark Green issued the following statement:

“Words can’t properly express my appreciation and respect for Scott Walker.

“He’s a committed and principled public leader, who always puts the needs of the taxpayers first.

“His decision today only confirms that.

“More importantly, he’s a good man, wonderful father and husband, and he keeps to his word.

“Milwaukee County is very fortunate to have him as their executive.

“For the last 15 months, Scott’s been my tag-team partner in our mutual cause to bring fiscal responsibility and integrity to the governor’s office.

“Our minor differences have never over shadowed our shared belief that Jim Doyle has spent too much, taxed too much and is too out-of-step with our Wisconsin values.

“I’m looking forward to working with Scott for years to come as we strive to make Wisconsin great again.

“I welcome him with open arms to the Green Team.”

[Thunder90]

One for your list!

[zbigreddogz]

Not that I have anything against Green, he's a solid guy from what I can tell, but I can't quite figure out why Walker wasn't the frontrunner.

If he can get elected and reelected in what I understand is the most Democratic county in the sate, it would seem like he'd be a lock for the nod, and probably for the Governor's mansion.

Can anybody explain to me why it's him that's withdrawing and not Green?

[Thunder90]

It is called the RINO syndrome.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The GOP establishment probably had a little "talking" to Walker, if you know what I mean.

I'll hold my nose and vote for Green but he's a Washington RINO who really hasn't done much.

[zbigreddogz]

Again, your meaningless sloganeering and empty logic is showing.

Green has an ACU number of 88.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I live in Green's district and he hasn't done jack for conservatism. Voted for all of Bush's big spending programs. His ACU rating is misleading.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"Green's Comments on Walker's Withdrawl" Ping.

Thanks to Thunder 90 for the Heads Up. I was out of the net today, baby-wrangling my one and three-year old nephews. Politics had to wait, today. ;)

I am VERY sad to see Walker go. He would've had my vote. But, I'm willing to learn more about Green. I'll NEVER vote for a Democrat. Never have, never will.

[rzeznikj at stout]

I've been watching both campaigns, and this is what I've noticed:

Green overall has more support statewide than Walker. There's a myriad of reasons why, but I believe it boils down to Green having more name-recognition overall statewide while citizens in the northern and western parts of the state barely know Walker. Simply, Congressman Green can draw on that name recognition, while Walker remains a relative unknown to many citizens.

Suppose Walker continued. Much of the time and capital would be spent duking out the primary. Now suppose Walker eked out a narrow win in the primary over Green. Walker would be broke, while during the primary race, Jim Doyle adds more money and handily wins reelection.

Walker's base exists in the southeast corner. While that area is the most densely populated in the state, and bearing one of the top conservative counties in the entire country, it simply wouldn't be enough to topple Doyle--even if the overwhelming majority of people in Milwaukee voted for Walker (possible, but not likely to happen).

I have nothing against Walker--what he's done for Milwaukee County and the region as a whole is outstanding. Rather, it's just that with the current state of things I see Green as at the bare minimum giving Diamond Jim something to sweat--if not outright removing him from office.

[zbigreddogz]

Hmm. Interesting.

Do you see Walker being a good candidate for anything else in the future? It sure seems like someone who's elected in such a heavily D county as an R should have a future.

[rzeznikj at stout]

I believe he has a future. Just not being elected governor in 2006.

On a regional basis, he's more than electable. IMO, he'd even make it far as a Congressman.

As for a statewide elected post at this time, no. However, he has a lot of potential.

In my opinion, he'd have to build up a wider support base around the state over time. If he started laying the groundwork and expanded his name and reputation beyond southeast Wisconsin and worked hard, I see him running for either governor or the U.S. Senate in 2010.

[steveegg]

Not that I have anything against Green, he's a solid guy from what I can tell, but I can't quite figure out why Walker wasn't the frontrunner.

If he can get elected and reelected in what I understand is the most Democratic county in the sate, it would seem like he'd be a lock for the nod, and probably for the Governor's mansion.

Can anybody explain to me why it's him that's withdrawing and not Green?

It's a combination of two factors:

• Mark Green is the less-conservative candidate (though not by much), and the idiots that run the Republican Party of Wisconsin have shown a disturbing trend to not only support the least-conservative candidate available in the primary season (which has also been adopted by the RNC), but actively pull the rug out from under a conservative candidate who dares run as a conservative in the general-election cycle (see Mark Neumann-1998, Scott McCallum-2002 and Tim Michels-2004).
• Scott Walker just doesn't have the money. Considering that Jim "Craps" Doyle (WEAC/Potawatomi-For Sale) already has more money on hand than the record amount he spent to buy the governor's mansion in 2002 (and that amount included the money he spent in a 3-way primary), and that the presstitutes in Wisconsin are already actively campainging for him, having a sizable warchest on hand September 13 (the day after the primary) is paramount. While the lack of money on Walker's part is related to item #1, Green was also able to transfer his federal warchest to his gubernatorial run. Walker didn't have a similar warchest to transfer to his run.

The outstate vs. Milwaukee-area name recognition is overrated, or at least it would be if the RPW didn't have it in for conservatives while taking their votes for granted. Green is as much an unknown down here in far-more-populous southeast Wisconsin as Walker is up in, say, Stout.

Milwaukee County is only the 2nd-most 'RAT-infested county in the state by percentage; Dane County (home of Madistan, er Madison) is still infested worse. It just has a lot less people.

[zbigreddogz]

So, by saying you think he'll run for Governor in 2010, do you think Green will lose? Or is this just speculating what Walker will do if he does?

[rzeznikj at stout]

I think Green will win the '06 race and hold office. I also think Walker will mull another run for Governor--but in 2010.

This is going to depend on what happens when Green is in office. If he does well--which I believe he will, Walker is going to have an uphill battle among Republicans--long story short, incumbent advantage will play in.

If by the sick twist of fate (and the ignorance/stupidity of the masses) Diamond Jim wins re-election, I highly suspect Walker will start preparing for another run for the Governor's Mansion. It'll definitely be hard not to.

[zbigreddogz]

It seems likely he'll run in 2010 if Green loses, but unless Green is a total screwup, I don't see him challenging him as an incumbent in the 2010 primary. With very rare exceptions (i.e. Sununu vs. Smith in the NH Senate Primary, Holden vs. McCatskill in MO Governor's primary), the chances of succeeding in a race like that are a thousand to one.

[rzeznikj at stout]

It depends. If Walker believes that Green is a viable target, he'll mull whether to launch a campaign. And for such a campaign to be clearly viable, Green would really have to biff repeatedly (a la Doyle) in office.

Otherwise, as I've said, assuming Walker can reach out, expand his base, and appeal to voters statewide, he would be a very good choice to oust Feingold (and send to Washington) in 2010.

[Watery Tart]

I am VERY sad to see Walker go.

I am, too. I had the rare pleasure of hearing them debate recently (surprise, Bingo Jim was invited, but declined). Mr. Walker had my vote from the start. He is more spontaneous in his answers, which told me that he spoke without mapping out how it would sound. Does that make sense?

In any case, I'm glad that we won't be split in our support now. And neither will the GOP "war chest."

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"In any case, I'm glad that we won't be split in our support now. And neither will the GOP 'war chest.'"

That's some consolation. I'll throw my support to Green, of course. Just wish the WI GOP would take care of us. They're such total weenie-RINOs it's barely tolerable. :(

Well, no sense dwelling on it. Time to roll up my sleeves again and call the Green for Governor Campaign and see what I can do for them. ;)

[reformedliberal]

Good analysis, IMO. I will add that Scott's campaign was not answering questions on his policies/stances from the very base they were targeting. I asked repeatedly for a statement on Smart Growth, for example, and even though I was inundated w/emails and campaign materials, I was never once answered, nor was that issue ever broached in any public materials.

Scott did not seem well-known here in the SW rural areas. If he made campaign appearances here, they were not well-publicized, nor did I find them on his schedule as published on his site or in his campaign emails. Again, when I queried the campaign on appearances in my county, I received no answers.

The state party is very adverse to conservatives, as the Michel's campaign showed. In my area of the state, the party is quite the closed club, at the top. People who were not doing their job in 04 were still protected by friendship and connections, even when their lack of positive participation was broached to officials. In one instance, personal friendship was cited to me as a reason to not expect any real work from a GOP County Chair who had a Kerry sign in her yard and spent her time working on personal publicity for immigration issues rather than for Bush in the General Election.

I know several couples who volunteered during 2004 and who will not work further with the Party for many of the above reasons. People are recruited to join and work, then given little to no support by the folks who have been in charge for way too long. In past local elections, progressives who switch to take advantage of straight ticket voters receive more support from the county officials than real conservatives.

Scott Walker was a dynamic and charismatic candidate. Had he been properly supported and showcased to the populace, he would have had as good, or better, a chance as Green. I am again very disappointed in the Wisconsin GOP. I will vote for Green, but I am not enthused about him except as he may have a chance to get rid of Doyle.