Free Republic

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, who served four terms as Wisconsin governor, is securing financial pledges and ramping up his outreach to longtime political aides in preparation for a possible campaign against Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold. Thompson has alerted his Washington-based law firm of his moves and is contacting key clients about the prospect of challenging Feingold, the most tangible signals yet that he’s seriously exploring a 2010 campaign. “The governor has taken additional steps in the past week and will continue to do so over the next several weeks. If the meetings go well, you can...

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker remains the strongest Republican for now in the race against likely Democratic candidate Tom Barrett in the contest for Wisconsin governor. A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in the state finds Walker leading Barrett, the mayor of Milwaukee, by nine points – 49% to 40%. Last month, in the first Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 survey of the race, Walker posted a 48% to 38% lead over Barrett. But the other prominent GOP hopeful, former GOP Congressman Mark Neumann, is now in a virtual tie with Barrett. He leads the Democrat 44% to...

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-Wis.) is encouraged by polls showing him leading Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) in a hypothetical matchup. He hasn’t announced a 2010 Senate run but admits he’s spoken to the head of National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and several other senators about the possibility. “It’s a good year for me,” Thompson told The Hill. “The polls are good in Wisconsin and I haven’t even indicated” an intention to run.

Erick Erickson is apparently busy running around CPAC, but not too busy to fire off this little note on his personal blog over at RedState: Pardon me if you’ve heard this one already. I’m running around CPAC and have missed the news. Governor Palin has gone all in with Sean Duffy and Charlie Cook is now saying David Obey is in trouble. Coincidence? Probably not. Duffy is RedState’s candidate up there. I hope you’ll consider joining Governor Palin and us in supporting him. The refreshing thing about Governor Palin is her willingness to get into contested primaries. That’s the type...

http://duffyforcongress.com/ http://obeystimulus.com/ Sean Duffy is running for Congress in Wisconsin's 7th District and is looking to retire current Democratic congressman, David Obey, who helped author the 787 billion dollar stimulus passed last year. Sean is currently getting nationwide exposure in such venues as Time Magazine, National Review Online, and the Wall Street Journal. Is he the next Scott Brown? Show your support Free Republic! http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1958119_1958112_1958125,00.html http://article.nationalreview.com/422186/could-obey-be-coakleyd/kathryn-jean-lopez http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704130904574644672185089720.html

One more Democratic senator who has long been regarded as a safe prospect for reelection may be facing a challenging year in 2010. A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in Wisconsin finds Republican Tommy Thompson edging incumbent Russ Feingold 47% to 43% in a hypothetical U.S. Senate match-up. Five percent (5%) like some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided. Any incumbent who attracts less than 50% support at this point in a campaign is considered potentially vulnerable.

Could Obey Be Coakley’d? Welcome to a new, real political world. By Kathryn Jean Lopez Goliath has been known to win, or he wouldn’t be Goliath. But he didn’t win this time. And that could significantly affect what happens in November. Scott Brown’s victory in the Massachusetts special election for the seat formerly considered by too many to be Ted Kennedy’s seat, is many varieties of good news. It’s especially good news for the Davids around the country who have their sights set on Washington. The “Yes, He Can” line emblazoned across the photo of Marco Rubio on NR’s cover...

Former Wisconsin Gov. and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson is still considering a challenge to Sen. Russ Feingold (D). In a brief interview Wednesday about the possibility of a Senate run this year, Thompson, a Republican, would only say: "I'm not saying no." The former governor mused last fall about a potential gubernatorial or Senate run, but if he does mount a campaign this year, it's now almost certain to be a run against Feingold. A Thompson-Feingold contest could become one of the country's marquee matchups. Republicans have so far been unable to recruit a top-tier challenger to...

Eau Claire (WQOW) - A real estate developer was in Eau Claire Wednesday, launching his campaign against Senator Russ Feingold. Terrence Wall is running as a republican. He started a real estate business 20 years ago and now employs about 35 people in Middleton. He says he's a fiscal conservative who will focus on creating jobs, cutting government spending and reducing taxes. Wall was asked about the statement sent by voters in Massachusetts Tuesday. They elected a republican to a seat held by Democrat Ted Kennedy for almost 50 years before he passed away last year. "I think the political...

If Scott Brown can win in Mass, anything is possible this year. Senator Russ Feingold was elected our US Senator in 1992. He has served three terms and perfect personifies what is wrong in Wash DC. Elected as a 'maverick', his signature legislative accomplishment in 18 years is 'McCain/Feingold' campaign finance 'reform'. Totally ineffective, it has done nothing to stop special interests from infecting our political campaigns. This election cycle, no 'establishment' Republican has dared to challenge Feingold. Feingold currently has raised over 9 million $ for his campaign, and has over $3 million 'cash' on hand, according to 'open...

CALEDONIA - Education isn't just for your children - it's for you too, Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher told a frozen but enthusiastic crowd Saturday. The setting for the latest Tea Party - this one dubbed the Tea Party Bonfire - was Wendell Anderson's farm on Highway H. Despite cold, damp winter weather, organizers reported from the stage that they'd counted more than 3,000 heads. Nancy Milholland, one of about 20 organizers, said the group had heard this was the first Tea Party of 2010. The name refers both the the Boston Tea Party and is an acronym for Taxed...

CALEDONIA - Education isn't just for your children - it's for you too, Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher told a frozen but enthusiastic crowd Saturday. The setting for the latest Tea Party - this one dubbed the Tea Party Bonfire - was Wendell Anderson's farm on Highway H. Despite cold, damp winter weather, organizers reported from the stage that they'd counted more than 3,000 heads. The event jammed Highway H for about a mile in each direction; other participants were shuttled to and from the event on yellow school buses from Caledonia-Mount Pleasant Park. People were still arriving at 3:55...

CALEDONIA - Joe the Plumber, the man who became the face of the average American during the 2008 presidential campaign, is coming to Racine County on Saturday. The Ohio man, whose full name is Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, has gone by Joe since he "came out of the womb," he said in a phone interview last week. But he didn't become nationally known as "Joe the Plumber" until he asked President Barack Obama a question about taxes on the campaign trail and his new nickname was later mentioned multiple times in a televised debate between Obama and Sen. John McCain. Now,...

WISCONSIN ELECTION CENTRAL If we are going to make a difference in the upcoming election, we need to KNOW the candidates. Please post the names of ALL your Congressional candidates on this thread along with any and all information available. We need names, positions, platforms, news articles, statements, pictures. We need to separate the RINOS from the Conservatives, and most of all, we need to get the liberals of either party OUT!We can do this if you help. I have started this thread. All you have to do is contribute a little time and a little research. Help us...

The Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel profiles GOP up-and-comer Sean Duffy, a 38-year-old district attorney in Wisconsin who’s taking on decrepit Democrat incumbent Rep. David Obey. He’s bringing fresh blood and energy to the fight — and he’s focused on fiscal responsibility:

Dave Obey challenger Sean Duffy is running a campaign today to raise money in honor of the original Boston Tea Party.

Wisconsin Governor Doyle has ruined the state (WI is a microcosm in the mold of the Feds). Our dem gov bowed out of the gov race a couple months ago. So, of course the GOP is running several candidates. Who's going to fill the dem opening, so far, NO ONE! What Democrat can run on the lib ticket? Is Wisconsin paving the way for a democrat defeat across the nation in 2010? The DNC's only hope is bambi. What hope is that? WE HAVE NO SERIOUS DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN!THIS IS HUGE! IS THIS...

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, whose approval ratings have plunged as he struggled with a weak economy and a multibillion-dollar budget deficit, will not seek a third term in 2010, a person informed of the decision told The Associated Press. The person, who was not authorized to announce the decision, told The AP on Saturday that Doyle, a Democrat, would make the announcement public in a Monday news conference. The person also said Doyle would serve the rest of his second four-year term. [Snip] Meanwhile, it's been a rough year for Doyle. Faced with a record high $6.6 billion budget shortfall,...

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