Posted on 08/23/2011 2:40:41 PM PDT by neverdem
One week after the last of the nine recall elections in Wisconsin were held and Republicans clung to their majority in the state senate, there are strong signs Republican strength in the Badger State is on the rise. Not only has the long-planned Democratic attempt to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker run out of steam, but the odds have risen dramatically on a Republican pickup of the seat of retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl in 2012.
After more than $40 million spent by both sides in the nationally watched recall contests long considered the “dress rehearsal” for a January recall of the conservative Walker, public opinion has shifted against it. Where a Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey in May showed voters statewide favoring a recall of Walker by a margin of 50% to 47%, the same survey in the last two weeks showed that the margin was reversed, that voters opposed recalling Walker by 50% to 46%. In addition, the PPP found that 43% of Wisconsin voters were happy with the results of the Aug. 9 recall elections that left Republicans in control of the senate and 39% were unhappy.
Last Friday, days after the last recall elections, Wisconsin Democrats were dealt a major jolt when the candidate considered their strongest contender to either retain Kohl’s seat or take out Walker in a recall election announced he wasn’t running for anything. Former three-term Sen. Russ Feingold, who was unseated by Republican Ron Johnson last November, announced, “While I may seek elective office again someday, I have decided not to run for public office during 2012.
A recent PPP poll concluded Feingold, now teaching at Marquette University, was the “best-known and best-liked” of Senate hopefuls of both parties, and was either running ahead or tied with any of the Republican hopefuls. His no-go leaves Democrats with the likelihood of a hard-fought primary between two lesser-known candidates: liberal Representatives Tammy Baldwin (lifetime American Conservative Union rating: 1.91%) and Ron Kind (lifetime ACU rating: 14.69%).
On the Republican side, where former four-term Gov. Tommy Thompson had been considered to be toying at most with a Senate run, one veteran GOP consultant in Wisconsin told HUMAN EVENTS he is “now 90% sure Tommy is running. He has signed on the two best Republican fund-raisers in the state, Mary Stitt and Dan Morris.”
Also considered a likely candidate now is former Rep. Mark Neumann, a strong “deficit hawk” and stalwart conservative who lost bids for the Senate in 1998 and governor last year. Following the recall elections and Feingold’s statement, Waukesha business owner Neumann told reporters he’s received calls urging him to run and “a decision is coming very, very soon."
As a candidate, Neumann would be expected to have the backing of the Club for Growth, a soul mate with his anti-deficit agenda, and many grassroots conservatives disappointed in the 70-year-old Thompson for appearing at the White House two years ago as part of the Obama administration’s call for health care reform.
Also considered possible Republican Senate candidates are Assembly Speaker Jerry Fitzgerald and former State Sen. Ted Kanavas, now a multimillionaire software entrepreneur and venture capitalist.
All things considered, the latest political developments in Wisconsin have been quite dramatic—and, it appears, quite beneficial to the Republicans.
Christian Science Monitor – Wed, Aug 17, 2011
Republicans in Wisconsin’s Senate will retain their razor-edge margin over Democrats in the wake of a special recall election Tuesday.
Voters allowed two Democratic incumbent senators to retain their seats, meaning Republicans have just a one-vote majority in the Senate, 17 to 16. That’s a narrower margin than before this month’s spate of recall elections. Expectations are that it will push Gov. Scott Walker (R) toward a legislative agenda that holds greater appeal for Democrats or that is handled more sensitively than the so-called “budget repair bill” from February, which so angered Democrats that they fled the state to prevent a vote on it.
The reshuffling is expected to make it more difficult for the Republican majority to pass controversial legislation such as stricter restrictions on abortion rights or harsher penalties for illegal immigrants.
http://news.yahoo.com/democrats-win-latest-wisconsin-recall-state-little-less-140727385.html
“Neumann....”
Do not like.
He’s annoying.
He also ran a dirty campaign against our Gov. Walker, when Neumann and Walker were competing for the governor’s office.
Neumann also drank the enviro-weenie kool-aid. He has a home building biz that pushes the “green” agenda.
That being said, Tommy is a big spending RINO.
Preferable to Neumann, but barely.
We need a grassroots conservative, not a politician. Someone like our new Senator Ron Johnson, who was a businessman, and stepped forward after the outrageous ObamaCare unconstitutional mandate was passed.
We need NEW BLOOD, not retreads like Neumann and Tommy Thompson.
I am The TEA Party, and I do not support either of these guys.
***PING to Diana in Wisconsin***
Correct me if I’m wrong but I think Tammy Baldwin is the frontrunner now that Feingold has decided not to run. She can’t win against anyone imo. She’s openly gay - and she’s in your face about it - and as liberal as you can get.
Why run Thompson who will probably stay for one term for a little bit of more personal glory when we can run a conservative who could hold the seat for many, many years?
Use the Bill Buckley rule, i.e. the most conservative who is electable. That URL says Badgers are pretty much equally divided between pubbies, rats and indies. You will find some indies and rats who are conservative.
That's all I'll tell a Badger about Wisconsin. I'm just a political junkie from NYC. Congratuations on concealed carry!
With great disappointment, I can report that both Rats retained their seats.
We should have won one of them.
We do not yet have Voter ID.
We will have it by the 2012 elections.
Thanks for asking! FReegards, TheConservativeParty
Both Dems won in the August 16 recall.
Hey Jim, check out post 7.
It stinks.
Signed, TheConservativeParty (Wisconsin farmgirl)
Voter ID has passed but it has not taken effect yet. Photo IDs will be required for the next election cycle.
I do not understand that ,”likes the limelight” thing. At 70 you’d think these old fools would rather stay home and drool.
McCain, Hatch and so many others.
To: TheConservativeParty
To Wisconsin Freepers
What happened to the 2 Rats that were in a recall election?
23 posted on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 8:17:39 PM by Reily
Both Democrats won the recall attempt.
Yes, I know. If you look at the next line in my post it says “We will have it by the next election.”
Here’s to Voter ID!
Should have always had it!
Cheater Dems didn’t want it, aren’t they just wonderful (not).
Cheers!
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