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A surprise turn in Wisconsin

By: Neil Stevens (Diary)  |  June 23rd, 2010 at 06:38 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Wisconsin

Good afternoon, wherever you may be. My apologies for getting today’s poll goodness out late, especially since it’s one I wanted to post yesterday anyway.

But it turns out that, per Rasmussen, the Wisconsin Senate may yet be a race after all, despite the fact that many of us probably tuned it out once Tommy Thompson declined to run.

Indeed, GOP convention endorsee Ron Johnson has very nearly tied Russ Feingold 45-46 (MoE 4.5). It irks me when people talk about a “statistical tie,” but at 55/45 lead probabilities, this poll is pretty fair to call a statistical tie.

The PPACA doesn’t seem to be helping Feingold. Unlike what we saw in California and Illinois, Wisconsin can’t even come up with a slim majority for it, and support for repeal runs 58-39. Is that a factor? It sure wouldn’t surprise me.

Crossposted from Unlikely Voter

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COMMENTS

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  • http://truthupfront.blogspot.com jsanzone

    I nearly wrote out Wisconsin after Tommy Thompson declined. But -all- the Dems (not to mention many incumbent Republicans) are vulnerable this year and for the foreseeable future. Don’t write out any state. If we could pull it off in Massachusetts, we can pull it off literally anywhere.

  • lukematthews

    There are going to be even more surprising trends that alter our political landscape. One thing to remember is Scott Brown didn’t begin gaining traction until th eleventh hour. If there are some decent candidates against these authoritarian crypto-socialists, they will be able to ride a wave of discontent into office. Minnesota is showing some of the same ambivalence toward its Progressives. There is significant pushback by political independents against The Party Machine as well as some serious fury over the spend-a-thon and healthcare deform, and crap and tax.
    The cracks are beginning to show in the smiles of the faux-Democratic politicians.

  • boneyard

    Before I begin to salivate over the possible defeat of Russ Feingold, who isn’t the worst Senator by a country mile, I’d like to know what his likely replacement stands for. I mean. It’s not like we need another Larry Craig in there. So far Ron Johnson doesn’t even have a website. So I did a little googling and came up with an article by George Will.

    Johnson doesn’t sound too bad if George Will’s characterization is accurate. In fact, he sounds great. Seems he’s a fan of Ayn Rand. (I’m not. She was a lousy novelist and a worse philosopher. But she was right on the issues nonetheless). The theme of his campaign is “First of all, freedom.” He favors entitlement reform and medical savings accounts. (How long did Republicans control Congress and do neither of these things?)

    He’s independently wealthy and prepared to finance his own campaign which means that at least he won’t start out beholden to special interests.

  • acollins41

    Dave Westlake, the other Republican running for Senate, gained 3 points on Feingold in one month.

    He has a few extremely well-written posts on redstate, here is his latest:
    http://www.redstate.com/dwestlake/2010/06/22/olive-branch-politics/

  • redtillimdead

    He will be able to stay on par with Russ Feingold as far as money spent. He has built a great campaign team. He is also founder of the Oskosh Tea Party, which helps him with GOTV.

  • redtillimdead

    http://www.ronjohnsonforsenate.com/home/ First on Google. He shares our values. He has founded a Tea Party group in Oskosh, his home town. He has spoken at many tea parties across Wisconsin. We don’t have to worry about him being a Charlie Crist. He’s more like Sharron Angle and Rand Paul, except he is expected to win his primary.

  • IJB

    Here 13 days. Bashes Bush 43. Bashes Ayn Rand. Bashes a GOP Senate candidate.

    This don’t pass my “smell” test…

  • IJB

    …Before Westlake can be a serious threat to Feingold, he first has to show he can be a serious threat to Johnson.

    If Westlake can achieve the latter, he’ll achieve the former…

  • Richard Mullins

    Both Republican challengers are close and one almost tied. That is scary for a Democrat. If it get any worse, Feingold might retire. Maybe he’ll join his house compadre from Wisconsin, David Obey on a yatch or something.

  • Richard Mullins

    It seems like there is something that you don’t like and someone that you don’t like. I wish keep your thoughts to yourself and if there is something better on a candidate than another, bring it up. Tribbles,trolls and Mobys are things that we don’t like here.

  • mbecker908

    When all is said and done, it’s not enough to just be “mad” at the incumbent (D or R) you’ve GOT to have a credible candidate.

    This is great news from WI, I’d love to see Russ retired.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    Definitely moby material.

  • indccc

    He spoke at the one and only OshKosh tea party and at the Madison Tax Day Tea Party. He was endorsed just 6 days after he announced, simply because he has money. Google the vetting session of Ron Johnson by the Rock River Patriots. There is video. You can also watch the video of a forum between Westlake and Johnson on wiseye.org. Johnson is not the best, most conservative candidate; he just has money. Johnson has spent lots of money on ads and he moved up 1 point in the polls. Westlake hasn’t put out any ads and he went up 3 points. That is because Westlakes message is the right conservative message. Haven’t we seen several instances this cycle that prove the “Party” endorsed candidate isn’t always the best candidate? Please research both of these men before you make up your mind?

  • Duke

    About a week and a half ago at a local state legislator’s fund raiser. Ron may be a millionaire, but it wasn’t handed to him, he earned it with his own company – which, by the way, actually exports product to China! He’s the real deal, a down to earth guy without a liberal bone in his body.

    He’s in favor of rolling back Obama’s health insurance scam; he believes in tax cuts to enhance national economic growth, and he believes global warming is a hoax and a scam. I talked with him for quite a while, and I’m ready to do whatever I can for him here in Wisconsin.

    He also had a short, fat little Democrat following him everywhere he went that day, including uninvited to the local noon Kiwanis meeting. The guy was videoing every word Ron said. Gee, what would you think Rusty Russ intends to do with that video? What an egotistical loser. Bye, bye, Russ. We take out the trash in November, and that includes your video spy!

  • JadedByPolitics

    in a few minutes on a VERY BAD decision to work against a Child Sex Abuse bill in the legislature up there!

  • daleg

    Ron Johnson is probably better than Tommy Thompson on a broader range of issues. I like Thompson, and he has far better name recognition across the state as well as a strong electoral track record. In my opinion though he was sometimes too ready to compromise or make political trades. I can’t point to a specific case off the top of my head, but I always felt he was a good conservative “for Wisconsin” (my home state), in the same way I might consider Scott Brown a good conservative “for Massachusetts” today.

    Ron Johnson is a businessman (plastics) and appears to be more of a conservative than a Republican. Time will tell, but Wisconsin may have a trustworthy conservative in the Senate after years of Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl (William Proxmire & Gaylord Nelson in my youth). How refreshing would that be for Wisconsin and the USA?

  • rdelbov

    What impressed me about Ron Johnson is that he spoke to numerous small groups and a lot of one on one time prior to and during the GOP convention. He basically got all the teaparty support and much of the establishment support in about a week’s time.

    Straight forward -honest look in the eye talk about taxes-the size of government, free enterprise and freedom.

    Now more then ever its Ron Johnson time

  • namaste

    @redtillimdead – why do you insist on misrepresenting the truth? Great that Johnson is tied in this poll, we need Feingold out, but Johnson, we are finding out is not the best candidate in the race. Johnson did NOT start any tea party, nor has he spoken at “many” tea parties across the state. He spoke at TWO (and this was because he was asked to speak by establishment types). So much has already been written on the shenanigans of Johnson’s anointment by the Republican Party elites to build him up as tea party credibility, without having earned it.

    I truly believe that Johnson’s polling number is where it is now b/c people think that Ron Johnson’s character, values, principles and intellect are that of his primary opponent, Dave Westlake. They are not. Oh, they really are NOT.

    When asked by local talk radio host, Charlie Sykes, why Johnson got in to the race, he admitted he heard a shout out from Dick Morris that Wisconsin needed a rich guy to run.

    In contrast, Dave Westlake states he is running to end waste, fraud and abuse by taking the harder right over the easier wrong. He is not an opportunist. In fact, he has been in the race for over a year, building the grassroots coalition in Wisconsin necessary to defeat Feingold.

    Note, he had such conviction to unseat Feingold with his conservative message, that he got in the race BEFORE anyone thought that this could be possible.

    PLEASE, if you are interested in this race, check out recent write ups right here on Redstate, or JSonline. Johnson’s vetting videos are enlightening. Author, Pompadour has 4 excellent objective diaries – “Local grassroots……”

    www.redstate.com/pompadour/2010/6/018/local-grassroots-group-vets-ron-johnson-part-2-the-constitution-is-not-an-easy-document-to-read/

    www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/96528854.html

    I can go on ad nauseum, but I will refrain from regurgitating all the recent information that has come out about Johnson and Westlake. Johnson, we are finding out is not who he was portrayed to be. Westlake, we are learning is the true conservative, the true tea party candidate, the man we should be getting behind. He has written amazing diaries regarding conservatism and has one right now on the reco list.

    Any interest in getting Feingold out? Honestly, we have to start looking at Westlake. Feingold won here in ’92 running as the common man, without millions of his own. Feingold has never lost to the millionaire candidate. Westlake is the true threat to him. We need to support him. He is a man of integrity, a West Point grad, a small business owner, a family man, a man of principle, rooted in the constitution. Johnson is the politics as usual establishment candidate. One who stated he would throw 10 – 15 million dollars of his own money in to the campaign. One who was endorsed 6 days after his announced candidacy. One with a thin veneer (and I do mean veneer) of tea party credibility.

    Westlake is the real deal. www.davewestlake.org

  • namaste

    http://www.redstate.com/pompadour/2010/06/18/local-grassroots-group-vets-ron-johnson-part-2-the-constitution-is-not-an-easy-document-to-read/

  • awillems9

    I don’t know everything that happens in the Badger state, but didn’t some Tea Party groups come out and say that they never endorsed any candidate, and if a candidate claims they have Tea Party backing, that would be a lie?

    Now more than ever, it is time to personally look a candidate in the eye, see their soul, and choose your man and not let the GOP tell you whom to support! Otherwise, you will get the same-old-same-old.

  • tapout

    Feingold is vulnerable–if we put the right opponent up against him in the general election. We need a candidate whose ideas have not been focus-grouped from the Old Guard Establishment. We need someone who doesn’t need to be protected from vetting sessions by his ‘handlers’. We don’t need an opportunist, we need someone who is a true believer, a constitutional warrior. Someone in this race to be a servant of the people. We need someone who lives and breathes constitutional conservatism to the core, not just a veneer.

    If you do not know who Dave Westlake is or what he stands for, you have to find out. Check out the numerous diaries already written in the Redstate archives.

    Dave Westlake is the real deal.
    Duty, Honor, Country—
    I believe he is a return to the type of representative our Founders had in mind when they created our Representative Republic.

  • proudgop

    Johnson will be a great Senator I do wish Wisconsin did not have such a late primary ( Sept) because it will drain valuable resources here and in the Gov Race in the state ( though Rasmussen has both Republicans up a lot more here)

    It really is great to see how we are competitive in so many races. I mean even Oregon senate Race is close now ( Rasmussen Poll, Survey Usa poll, even Hotline today had poll from Wyden camp and they released it showing him at only 53%). Perhaps Oregon might creep out of no where too

  • redmassman

    Here’s the best video I’ve found so far that puts Johnson and Westlake head-to-head:

    http://www.wiseye.org/wisEye_programming/campaign10/ARCHIVES-CPN10_GOV.html#3675

  • rdelbov

    with all due respect but I have been to Redstate here daily for several years. Exactly how many threads have been on UN treaties? Yet we have Ron Johnson’s views on UN treaties coming up?

    For that matter exactly how many threads in the last year or two have been on UN?

    Perhaps parts of Rural Wisconsin are real hotbeds of UN treaty discussion. I think perhaps there is one UN treaty that I can recall in the last two years or so.

    The big issues in DC are our deficit-national debt-10% unemployment-lose of personal freedom-liberal judges-Obamacare. That’s what has got our country mad and the teaparty folks up in arms. I personally am thankful that Johnson is up on those topics and does not know much about UN treaties.

  • handprop

    According to his fundraising invitation he is in Washington doing a fundraiser with lobbyists from big pharma, plastics, and oil and gas. He is manufactured and running a “consultant campaign”. This is old news in Wisconsin and is one of many reasons why his polling numbers only showed a 1 point bump. When you consider he just got the endorsement (that’s all he talks about) and is spending money on round the clock TV spots it doesn’t look good.

    Why doesn’t he release his financial information? Why did he file for an extension?

    How about the $500,000 earmark for the Opera House in Oshkosh? He was on the board….please explain.

    TEA parties support him? Show me one shred of proof please, TEA party founder in Oshkosh? What a fabricated crock, it was one event and was put on by Ganther construction……do some research on Ganther or just look at the pictures.

    By the way, I was at the forum on Monday. Ron Johnson was walking around with his people like he was a God. Stuff like this doesn’t work in Wisconsin.

    Dave Westlake drove his truck and walked in 15 minutes before the show,

    Ron Johnson had his private “ready room” and was inside for hours practicing with a group of advisors.

    It gets better, after the forum Ron headed straight for the cameras and bashed Dave Westlake, his comment…..”Dave Westlake has no money”

    Think about it………Ron is running to be a U.S. Senator, and that’s the conversation he chose. Ron Johnson is scared and it was plain as day for anybody who was at the forum.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    We like big oil, plastics, and pharma.

    We like having cars to drive, affordable goods, and medicine to make us feel better when we’re sick.

    We’re not a bunch of dang hippies.

  • eburke

    conflagration, it would seem that I need to make a donation to Westlake ASAP.

  • E Pluribus Unum

    I’m one of them.. Two reasons – first, he’s got lots of….peculiarities, And second, there’s another candidate named Dave Westlake, an outstanding man — also polled in the Rasmussen poll and doing almost as well.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    But that comment by that one person was incredibly mobyish, and his comment history was suspect as well.

  • sassie lassie

    The Coalition of TEA Parties in Wisconsin did not endorse Ron Johnson. Ron Johnson is not a TEA Party founder. Ron Johnson spoke at two TEA Parties. He was invited to both. Ron Johnson has been invited by many TEA Party groups for vetting sessions. He attended one. He scheduled another and cancelled it after the one vetting session went badly. He has not scheduled other TEA Party vetting sessions.

    Dave Westlake has spoke at many TEA Parties. Dave Westlake has attended many TEA Party vetting sessions. Dave Westlake’s campaign did not claim to be a TEA Party founder nor did he claim to be the TEA Party candidate.

    Dave Westlake is principled, conservative and looks you in the eye when he talks to you. Dave Westlake has won over many voters- conservatives and liberals. Why? Because when you talk to Dave, you know that what he is saying is what he will do. He will represent THE PEOPLE of Wisconsin.

    Dave Westlake lives the Duty, Honor, Country motto of Westpoint. It is who he is!

    Ask him any question, he will not lie, he will not skirt the issue. He wants you to hold him accountable! He will not hide – Blaze Orange accountablity. Dave Westlake is genuine. He is the real deal.

    Do I want arrogant Russ removed? Yes I do. Will we take Russ out by running campaigns as usual. No we won’t. Will it take ordinary politicians to defeat Russ? No it won’t. Will it take politics NOT as usual to gain our country back. Yes it will.

    Working hard, with boots on the ground for selfish reasons. I want my country back! I am Dave Westlake!

  • redtillimdead

    Last week. Not enough time to move much. He won after spending months talking and meeting with delegates. He gave a good speech that the delegates liked. If he won that soon after announcing, its a good sign. It shows he knows how to get his message out and the people like that message. Sorry if I mislead anyone. He is not THE founder of the Oshkosh tea party, but ONE of the founders of the Oshkosh Tea Party.

  • redtillimdead

    He just can’t beat Feingold yet. He would make an excellent legislator or US Rep. Feingold has millions of dollars, special interest’s money, and a strong campaign team behind him. Westlake can’t compete with that. He’s a good guy, and I’d love to see him in office, but Johnson is the best bet to beat Feingold.

  • redtillimdead

    I just know that EVERYONE has called him a founder of a Tea Party. Westlake is a good guy. I’m not going to attack him like you insist on doing to another fine Conservative Republican candidate.

  • redtillimdead

    That 3 users posted within 3 hours and had almost the exact same message. I’m not saying something is up, but its suspicious when 2 of them signed up on the same day (sassie lassie and handprop) and one only 18 days ago (namaste) even though it could just be the last 2 copying namaste, as he has been a fairly regular user, and is probably not associated with the other 2 (or 1).

  • E Pluribus Unum

    nt

  • E Pluribus Unum

    And that’s coming from a Westlake fan.

    But I would say that namaste is the real thing. Actually written diaries with substance in them.. IIRC, he/she went to the state convention too. That’s worth some cred.

    You guys are just going to have to deal with the fact that Westlake has a fairly sizable fan club here (and if you followed the Rasmussen link, you’ll see he’s also competitive against Feingold), and when a WI story just totally leaves him out, you can expect a rather large chorus of “hey, what the heck!”

    That’s just the way it is. Neil can write it how he wants, and the Westlakers can pipe up with their opinion as well. There’s no bone of contention here. That’s RedState being RedState. We don’t march in lockstep.

    Not during primary season, anyway.

  • sassie lassie

    I am not fishy. I am passionate! I am a conservative that is active and wants my voice to be heard. And I have no idea who anyone else is on Redstate.

    I also was at the Wisconsin State Convention where I was appalled at what went on. I work too hard and spend too much of my time and money for conservative values to be run over by my own party. I am tired of following Russ Feingold to townhall meetings and be treated with such arrogance! And I am silent no more!

    Maybe we are saying the same thing because Dave Westlake is the real deal. We obviously have all met the man. We obviously have found out that his principles are solid. We obviously want him to represent us in Washington DC.

  • RottDawg

    Ron Johnson is the establishment candidate, just like the ones we just beat last night,,,

    Westlake is the peoples candidate. I know he has to prove that, and I believe he will come September.

    It will be tough for him to do, I will admit. I am a product of CW project and am active in the party. I won’t air dirty laundry here and now, but let me just say that I will not be surprised when this race between Johnson and Westlake ends up on the FP of RS on a daily basis like we’ve seen in the past.

    I agree with you that we like all the things you mention above, but we don’t like special interest controlled zombies deciding our future. Do I know that Johnson is one of those? I don’t, but with the events that I have seen take place so far, I damn sure wouldn’t place any bets at this point.

    I know Dave very well and he has my support and many others here. If Moe would like to do a no holds barred meet the candidate piece, I am sure that Mr. Westlake would relish the opportunity. I bet you’ll be impressed too.

  • pompadour

    Didn’t I already suggest that you quit talking until you had your facts straight? I see you’r a slow learner.

    http://www.redstate.com/pompadour/2010/06/24/wisconsins-senate-race-and-the-real-story-told-by-the-latest-rasmussen-numbers/

  • pompadour

    Look at the numbers properly, and you’ll find that Westlake has already done just that:

    http://www.redstate.com/pompadour/2010/06/24/wisconsins-senate-race-and-the-real-story-told-by-the-latest-rasmussen-numbers/

  • handprop

    I have nothing to hide!

    My real name in Michael. I own a business in Watertown Wisconsin the home town of Dave Westlake. I have no education other than learning on my own and from what Dave has taught me. Politics is something I normally ignore until I met Dave Westlake in church.

    I volunteer for Dave Westlake when I have time. Dave recommended Redstate because I keep asking questions he doesn’t have time to answer. I really like the articles here and as a dad of three children my main interest is abortion, or right to life as people seem to call it.

    I have not given the Westlake campaign 1 penny in donations because I’m a business owner and Dave doesn’t want any influence from businesses. Instead he asked me to donate time when I’m able to do so.

    I don’t write a diary here on Redstate because my grammer and spelling is so bad It’s actually embarrassing. I have an idea for an article but I don’t think I’m going to write it, this site has very good writters and I’ll just leave it up to them.

    I am passionate about Dave Westlake and I will defend him. But, I will also tell you what I told Dave the day I volunteered……If you do one thing that’s not honorable I will call you out,

    I wish I could spend more time with Dave but between my business and the fact that he is out meeting people in ever corner of Wisconsin 7 days a week that’s a rare thing.

    Nothing fishy about it, and I would like to continue to read Redstate and become more knowledgeable about the demise of our country.

    I will leave you with this tidbit about why I’m passionate about Dave. He is ultra positive, and he never complains, he can see a direct path to a better America. Dave is fighting sun up to sun down to fight for the very thing that allowed an uneducated common fella like me to own a successful business…..I just want to give back and protect it.

    Here is what Redtate has done for me. Although Dave wont except a donation from me, I do donate. I like the underdogs and Redstate authors seem to find them. I have donated to many of the campaigns outside of Wisconsin because of Redstate.

    If you think I’m fishy because of when I signed up to Redstate, please, ask me any question you want and I will give you an honest answer.

    Mike–Handprop

  • pompadour

    Jeepers creepers! Where to start with this comment…

    First of all, daleg, that’s a very strange remark. Tommy Thompson is a progressive Republican, an opportunist, and a publicity hound who would sell your freedom down the river in a heartbeat if he believed he stood to gain by it. Are you aware that, as Governor, Tommy took close to 160,000 acres of land OFF THE PUBLIC TAX ROLLS? That’s land that will never again be privately owned. Land that can’t be developed. Land that can’t help Wisconsin thrive and come back from its current mess. Does that sound conservative to you?

    Moreover, I personally sat on a conference call last November in which Mr. Thompson plainly stated that “everyone knows the government needs to be involved in health care. This is just the wrong bill.” Why did he say that? Because in his current line of work, Mr. Thompson stands to make millions of dollars from government intervention in health care. Tommy is a D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R and a S-H-Y-S-T-E-R. Make no mistake about it.

    Second of all, make no mistake about the fact that Ron Johnson is a moderate with progressive leanings who would ultimately be little better than Thompson. I’ve written elsewhere that it looks suspiciously like Thompson was very much in on Johnson’s highly questionable endorsement. If you like politics as usual, just bite down hook, line, and sinker on what the ever-charming Wisconsin GOP is dangling in front of you.

    Furthermore, Johnson is already revealing his true colors, and he stood by some of them even after he got his talking points down in Waukesha the other day. Doubt me? Read the whole story…and there’s a good bit of it:

    Part 1:

    http://www.redstate.com/pompadour/2010/06/17/local-grassroots-group-vets-ron-johnson-part-1-oops-a-daisy/

    Part 2:

    http://www.redstate.com/pompadour/2010/06/18/local-grassroots-group-vets-ron-johnson-part-2-the-constitution-is-not-an-easy-document-to-read/

    Part 3:

    http://www.redstate.com/pompadour/2010/06/21/local-grassroots-group-vets-ron-johnson-part-3-believing-your-own-hype/

    Part 4:

    http://www.redstate.com/pompadour/2010/06/23/local-grassroots-group-vets-ron-johnson-part-4-the-patriot-act-polka/

  • pompadour

    Not only, as a willems9 mentions, did Johnson’s campaign claim a title for him that he hadn’t been given, but last week he CANCELED appearances with several groups that are part of the Tea Party movement in Wisconsin. As I recall, they found it a bit fishy…as did the media.

    One 45-minute vetting session with the Rock River Patriots was enough to reveal that Johnson is far from a solid conservative. In fact, considering he’s got anti-trust leanings, it’s fair to say he’s got progressive leanings. He even confessed that he finds the Constitution a difficult document to read. Brilliant… See my reply to daleg above.

    He may have his talking points down now, but I can promise you that his knowledge and his sincerity only go about an inch deep.

    I would urge you to do some actual vetting before it’s too late.

  • pompadour

    Seriously, get your facts straight:

    http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt_and_politics/article_8aede51a-6f19-11df-98a7-001cc4c03286.html

    And proudGOP, I would strongly advise you to watch the Rock River Patriots’ vetting session before you make up your mind about what a great senator Johnson would be. He’s already plainly stated he’s for anti-trust legislation. His stance on the 2nd Amendment is pathetic. And it seems doubtful that he’d be referring to the Constitution much on matters since he finds it a “difficult document” to read and understand:

    See my reply to daleg above.

  • handprop

    Maybe I’m barking up the wrong tree but but I feel as if this is at the core of the problem. When people like this donate and support a candidate they don’t do it to be nice, they do it for a reason. Maybe the reasons are honerable but as history has shown us I tend to doubt it.

    I like oil, plastics, and pharma but having an influence on a candidate yet to be in office doesn’t settle well with me.

    handprop

  • pompadour

    It’s not enough to know about the fiscal side of the equation. A senator has to know about ALL of this stuff, rdelbov..not just PARTS of it.

    And I personally know a LOT of people in Wisconsin who are DEEPLY concerned about our potential involvement in ANY UN treaty.

    Do you value sovereignty, rdelbov? Do you think the U.S. should STAY sovereign. Then I suggest you elect a senator who actually has a CLUE about foreign treaties instead of one who may figure it out at the last minute or may not. That Johnson flat out said in a vetting session that he hadn’t thought much about UN treaties is a serious problem.

  • pompadour

    Have you considered things from this angle? I’d be interested in your thoughts…

    http://www.redstate.com/pompadour/2010/06/24/wisconsins-senate-race-and-the-real-story-told-by-the-latest-rasmussen-numbers/

    Cheers!

  • indccc

    Because someone supports a conservative candidate, they are fishy? Could it be that they are just finally fed up with the crap politics as usual? Could it be that they are long time readers of Red State who just want to correct the mis-information about a race that they are invested in? Have you found any thing thay have written to be untrue? Or does it just upset you to be challenged so you question their motives?

    This election is different; there are more and more people like me that are finally getting off their butts and actively working to get the best candidates elected rather than just voting for the lesser of 2 evils. Sorry if you find that fishy, but we aren’t going away!

  • redtillimdead

    If they are fishy for supporting a conservative candidate. But, when two people sign up on the exact same day and post very similar messages very close together, then its fishy.

  • handprop

    I can’t help when people sign up.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    If Johnson lacks base support then why did he win the convention vote?

  • proudgop

    Via Political wire

    A new Public Policy Polling survey in Wisconsin shows Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) leading challenger Ron Johnson (R) by just two points, 45% to 43%.

    Interestingly, Johnson is closer to Feingold than former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) was as he contemplated a potential challenge.

    Most interesting: “Johnson is largely unknown to voters in the state. 62% have no opinion of him. Among those who do feelings are pretty divided with 20% seeing him favorably and 18% unfavorably. Johnson’s anonymity, in contrast to Thompson, may actually help GOP prospects for winning the seat… A fresher face may be helpful for Republicans as they try to pull off the upset in this race.”

  • pirate55

    …whoever that may be will be a much better choice than the incumbent Democrat, Mr. Feingold. As a former Wisconsin resident, now residing in the southernmost tip of the country (go figure) I would find either Mr. Westlake or Mr. Johnson to be preferential to the Democrat. As we encourage both candidates to convince the Wisconsin electorate why they are better than one another, let us observe the Wisconsin primary and trust it to accomplish that. This is the first time in many years it is beginning to mean something and maybe we can also take solace that the venerable Mr. Kohl may be next.

    Senator Kohl needs to consider retirement and pay closer attention to the NBA franchise he owns, or maybe he wants to held VP Biden scoop ice cream (oops, custard) at Kopps which still has the best anywhere.