Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson Paralyzes Senate Over Budget Fight

Benjy Sarlin | June 28, 2011, 4:49PM

Ad from candidate for U.S. Senate Ron Johnson (R-WI), "57"

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) ground the Senate to a halt on Tuesday, threatening to block "business as usual" until Democrats submit a budget.

Johnson began his broadside by objecting to a quorum call, blocking the Senate from proceeding with a vote. Quorum calls, like many basic Senate procedures, are approved by unanimous consent and Johnson threatened in a floor speech to wreak havoc on these uncontroversial motions.

"Business as usual is bankrupting America," he said in a floor speech. "It must stop."

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Campaign Finance

Ron Johnson Ducks TPM Questions On His $10 Million Payday: 'It's A Private Company'

Benjy Sarlin and Susan Crabtree | June 28, 2011, 1:04PM

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)

Legal experts say that whether Sen. Ron Johnson's (R-WI) $10 million parting gift from his company potentially violates campaign laws depends on when it was negotiated. But asked by TPM to directly address the timing, Johnson repeatedly ducked the question.

Johnson's collected $10 million in deferred compensation from his former company, Pacur, a figure that Wisconsin papers have noted lines up conveniently with the $9 million he spent on his Senate campaign in 2010 against incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold. The freshman lawmaker has offered few details on how or when the company worked out the $10 million number, but legal experts told TPM that if the package was negotiated after his Senate run it could potentially count as an illegal corporate donation to his campaign.

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Ron Johnson

Johnson Has Yet To Produce Written $10M Compensation Agreement

Susan Crabtree | June 28, 2011, 5:45AM

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Fmr. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), who defeated longtime campaign finance crusader Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) last year, has been under the microscope in recent days for possibly violating laws against corporate underwriting of campaigns.

Last week the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel started asking uncomfortable questions about $10 million in deferred compensation Johnson received from his former company, Pacur, weeks after his $9 million self-financed successful 2010 campaign came to an end.

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Deficit

Republicans: Sending Biden To Negotiate Economy = 'Phoning It In'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 8, 2011, 1:28PM

Republican candidate for Senate Ron Johnson (WI).

President Obama has dispatched Vice President Biden, the number two man in the government and nominally the head of the U.S. Senate, to handle negotiations with the GOP over deficit reduction.

Today, Republicans said that shows Obama doesn't really care much about getting the economy back on track.

"As a business person, the people I know running businesses, if their business was in jeopardy of going out of business, they'd be rolling up their sleeves, they'd be working 16, 17, 18 hours a day to solve a problem," Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) said. "And yet our president is totally disengaged. He sent his Vice President to negotiate what, maybe once a week? Twice a week?"

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Ron Johnson

Republican Sen. Ron Johnson to Vote Against Spending Deal

Benjy Sarlin | April 13, 2011, 10:48AM

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)

Freshman Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) will oppose the spending agreement negotiated last week, telling his constituents via a message on his website that he believes the measure failed to cut enough spending.

"I made a commitment to support the House in its pledge to cut $100 billion from the budget - a budget that should have been passed last year, when Democrats controlled both Houses of Congress and the presidency," he said. "I did so because I believe it was important to take that first step in enacting real spending cuts. This is the first CR that does not achieve that level of spending reduction. As a result, I will vote no when this CR comes before the Senate."

Johnson added that "We can do better; we must do better," and called for hard spending caps, a demand that many Republicans are expected to push for as part of a vote to raise the debt ceiling.

Ron Johnson

WI GOP Senator: Supreme Court Race 'Took The Wind Out' Of Union Sails

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 12, 2011, 2:50PM

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) told a gaggle of bloggers at the Heritage Foundation Tuesday that the controversial results of the state Supreme Court race in the Badger State surprised him, and indicate that Wisconsin isn't as pro-union as the thousands who gathered in and around the state capitol in Madison during the collective bargaining fight might want to think.

He also said that the battle between pro and anti-collective bargaining sides during the budget fight last month was much uglier than has been reported, with unknown leftist "thuggery" leading many state legislators to be "intimidated."

Johnson, who replaced Sen. Russ Feingold (D) in the Senate in the Republican sweep of the Wisconsin ballot in 2010, said that the apparent defeat of liberal Supreme Court candidate JoAnne Kloppenberg will significantly slow the roll of unions as they attempt to stop Republicans across the country from passing laws they don't like.

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Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson: 'ObamaCare' Would Have Killed My Congenitally Ill Daughter

Brian Beutler | March 23, 2011, 9:54AM

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed on the one-year anniversary of the health care law, freshman Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) recalls the story of his now-adult daughter, who was born with a heart defect, and nearly died -- and suggests she might not have survived if the new health care law had been in place back then.

"I don't even want to think what might have happened if she had been born at a time and place where government defined the limits for most insurance policies and set precedents [sic] on what would be covered," Johnson writes. "Would the life-saving procedures that saved her have been deemed cost-effective by policy makers deciding where to spend increasingly scarce tax dollars?"

It's a new, retroactive twist on the 'death panels' hoax, which has been broadly debunked, but never seems to go away.

It should be noted that one of the current benefits of the health care law prevents insurance companies from discriminating against children with pre-existing medical conditions.

Labor

New Wisconsin GOP Governor Pushes For Massive Rollback Of Worker Rights

Brian Beutler | February 11, 2011, 4:57PM

Scott Walker

Wisconsin's new Republican governor has set a new benchmark in fraying state-union relations in the wake of massive GOP victories in the November elections.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Scott Walker proposed stripping nearly all government workers of their collective bargaining rights. And as a warning shot across the bow, he told Wisconsin reporters Friday that he's alerted the National Guard ahead of any unrest, or in the event that state services are interrupted. Under his plan, which he'll include in his forthcoming budget proposal, most state workers would no longer be able to negotiate for better pensions or health benefits or anything other than higher salaries, which couldn't rise at a quicker pace than the Consumer Price Index.

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CPAC

Bachmann, McConnell, King Kick Off Day One Of CPAC

Jillian Rayfield | February 10, 2011, 9:06AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Here are the main speakers scheduled for the Conservative Political Action Conference, day one.

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Earmarks

Earmark Fight In Senate Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOP

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 12, 2010, 8:50AM

Jim DeMint

Total opposition to earmarking is a key tea party tenet, and the battle to get Republicans to voluntarily ban it in their ranks is already raging. Establishment leaders like Minority Leader Mitch McConnell -- who favor earmarking for its time-honored electoral implications -- are clashing with pro-ban Senators led by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), the body's tea party hero.

Lining up behind DeMint in the push to end earmarks are Sens. Jim Coburn (R-OK), John Cornyn (R-TX), John Ensign (R-NV) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) -- along with Senators-elect Pat Toomey (R-PA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Lee (R-UT), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Ron Johnson (R-WI).

McConnell has reportedly been fighting behind the scenes to squash the proposed ban, and Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) -- one of the Senate's most conservative members -- is publicly blasting his anti-earmark colleagues for hypocrisy.

Who wins the scrum could have broad implications in 2012.

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WI-SEN

The End Of A Progressive Champion: Russ Feingold Loses To Ron Johnson

Eric Kleefeld | November 2, 2010, 10:42PM

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Fmr. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)

As the Republican wave spreads across the country, it's time to say goodbye to one of the big-name progressive champions of the past 18 years: Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), champion of campaign finance reform and longtime opponent of the Patriot Act, has gone down in defeat against Republican businessman Ron Johnson. It marks the first time since 1986 that Republicans have won a Senate race here.

With 30% of precincts reporting, Johnson leads by 57%-42%, and has been projected as the winner by NBC News and Fox News.

Feingold won his first term with 53% of the vote in 1992, defeating incumbent two-term Republican Sen. Bob Kasten. He had started out in that race as a seemingly third-place underdog in the Democratic primary, but then won the primary with only 70% after after the two other candidates attacked He was then re-elected narrowly with 51% in 1998 against GOP Rep. Mark Neumann, then expanded that margin to 55% in 2004 against businessman Tim Michels. But the bad economy and the Republican tide this year were clearly too much to overcome.

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Russ Feingold

Dem Sources Hold Out Hope For Feingold

Brian Beutler | November 2, 2010, 9:00PM

Russ Feingold

Two Democratic sources tell TPM that their exit poll data shows Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) either tied with or down by the thinnest of margins against his Republican challenger Ron Johnson.

A senior Dem source says one exit poll has them down by a point. The other has it dead even.

Customary notes of caution about exit polls apply, and, of course, these are Democratic sources pulling for their candidate. But the early data is clearly closer than they expected they would be.

2010 elections

Senate In The Balance: TPM's Look At The 9 Key Races Still Up For Grabs

Eric Kleefeld | November 1, 2010, 5:06PM

Clockwise from top left: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

As we head into Election Day, one thing is clear for Senate Democrats: It's going to be bad. Seriously. There's no going anywhere but down. But how far down?

It's unlikely that Democrats will manage to lose their majority outright, since they're starting at the high mark of 59 seats. But things sure look rough. Open seats in Indiana and North Dakota seem to be gone already, along with incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas. Republican seats that seemed like potential Dem pickups much earlier in the cycle -- North Carolina and open seats in Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Ohio -- are clearly out of reach.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Stranger Than Fiction? TPM Casts The 2010 Midterms Movie]

The few bright spots for Democrats are open seats in Connecticut and Delaware, where very weak Republican candidates Linda McMahon and Christine O'Donnell have spared the Dems from total humiliation. So with that in mind, let's take a look at some other key races to watch tomorrow.

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WI-SEN

Polls: Feingold Continues To Trail Johnson

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2010, 10:50AM

Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Senate candidate Ron Johnson (R-WI)

Two new polls of the Wisconsin Senate race confirm that Republican businessman Ron Johnson leads three-term Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold. And though the Democrat has gained some ground, Feingold is still stuck in the mid-40s.

The new survey from Public Policy Polling (D): Johnson 53%, Feingold 44%. The survey of likely voters has a ±2.6% margin of error. In the previous poll from mid-September, Johnson led by 52%-41%.

And the We The People survey, a consortium of media interests in Wisconsin: Johnson 48%, Feingold 44%. The survey of likely voters has a ±5% margin of error. In the previous survey from early October, Johnson led by 49%-41%.

The TPM Poll Average gives Johnson a lead of 51.8%-44.6%.

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WI-SEN

Rasmussen Poll: GOPer Johnson Leads By 7 Points Against Russ Feingold

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2010, 12:41PM

Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Senate candidate Ron Johnson (R-WI)

The new Rasmussen poll of the Wisconsin Senate race shows Republican businessman Ron Johnson continuing to lead Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold.

The numbers: Johnson 53%, Feingold 46%. The survey of likely voters has a ±4% margin of error. In the previous Rasmussen poll from two weeks ago, Johnson led by a similar margin of 52%-45%.

This particular poll would seem to suggest that Johnson's recent gaffes -- his multiple admissions that he doesn't actually have any detailed policy proposals, only a general conservative philosophy -- have not made changed the race very much.

The TPM Poll Average gives Johnson 52.3%, Feingold 44.9%.

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Ron Johnson

Mailer Supporting Johnson Warns Government Will Ban Hunting Ammunition

Brian Beutler | October 26, 2010, 11:16AM

Candidate for U.S. Senate Ron Johnson (R-WI)

A political mailer sent to voters in support of Wisconsin Senate candidate Ron Johnson (R) plays on unfounded conservative fears that Democrats will outlaw hunting ammunition.

"It will be hard to hunt when ammo is banned," the mailer reads.

An image of the flier was sent along by a reader, who found it disingenuous. And indeed, groups that support gun bans don't exactly count the Obama administration as an ally.

"Anti-hunting extremists groups are trying to force the federal government to ban traditional hunting ammunition," it reads. "And they just may succeed.... Choose Ron Johnson on November 2. Ron Johnson will lead the fight against the anti-hunting extremists to protect your right to hunt."

The mailer was paid for by Safari Club International's PAC, based in Tucson, AZ.

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WI-SEN

Feingold Ad: Ron Johnson Is A Blank Whiteboard (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 25, 2010, 12:40PM

From a Feingold campaign ad, "Whiteboard"

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) has a new ad against his Republican opponent Ron Johnson, slamming Johnson's multiple admissions that he does not have detailed policy proposals. The ad depicted Johnson's non-existent plans as a blank whiteboard, which ultimately collapses to the floor.

"Ron Johnson has spent a lot of money on TV ads. But he won't tell you what his plans are," the announcer says. "When he was asked what his plan was to create jobs, he didn't have one. When he was asked what spending he would cut, he said he wouldn't play that game. The fact is, Mr. Johnson has no plans. He says his true feelings can take voice after the election. When times are tough, who do you trust to stand up for us?"

The TPM Poll Average gives Johnson a lead of 51.7%-44.4%.

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WI-SEN

Feingold Airs Ad Touting Support From Vets After Johnson Gaffe

Brian Beutler | October 21, 2010, 11:40AM

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)

Impeccable timing: The Russ Feingold campaign will today begin airing the below ad touting his support from veterans.

Why's the timing impeccable?

Because just yesterday, his Republican opponent, Ron Johnson got tripped up when asked to describe his view of the government's role in helping homeless veterans.

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WI-SEN

Ron Johnson On Homeless Vets: This Election Isn't About Details [VIDEO]

Brian Beutler | October 21, 2010, 9:34AM

Wisconsin's Republican Senate hopeful Ron Johnson got tripped up on a point of policy during a recent interview: Asked what the Department of Veteran's Affairs' responsibility is to homeless veterans, Johnson declared that his election fight against Sen. Russ Feingold is not "about details."

"Certainly the people that step up to the plate to answer that call -- they are a top priority in terms of spending. So we do need a strong VA system. We need to support those folks as long as they need support," Johnson said.

The moderator pressed Johnson -- a government skeptic -- to explain exactly how the government should respond to the issue of homeless vets. "Are there specific things that you think need to happen within that galaxy of services, perhaps, that the VA has some responsibility for or other organizations that would help homeless veterans?"

Johnson responded, flummoxed.

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WI-SEN

Ron Johnson: I'm Applying For The Job Of Senator -- I Don't Need Details

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2010, 4:34PM

Candidate for U.S. Senate Ron Johnson (R-WI)

Businessman Ron Johnson, the Republican nominee in the Wisconsin Senate race, seems to have had another fun moment this morning -- declaring at a candidate forum that he doesn't have to have details on policy.

As WisPolitics reports:

GOP U.S. Senate candidate Ron Johnson said this morning he doesn't have specific details on how to solve the nation's issues, instead comparing himself to a promising job candidate who has the potential to learn on the job.

...

"I don't believe this election is about details. I really don't," Johnson said. "I've met with people in 60 counties and done 500 personal events, and my approach is to convey to people who I am, explain my manufacturing background, and then as honestly as I can, let people know what my philosophy is."

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WI-SEN

Wisconsin Paper Endorses Feingold After Johnson Deer-In-Headlights Moment

Brian Beutler | October 20, 2010, 2:25PM

Russ Feingold

That didn't take long. The Wisconsin newspaper that had Republican Senate hopeful Ron Johnson at a loss for words over how to help the middle class has just endorsed his opponent, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI). What's more, the paper cites stumping Johnson as a key driver of their decision.

"Oshkosh businessman and political newcomer Ron Johnson, also has voiced his support for spending controls and fiscal responsibility in Washington," the endorsement reads. "His plan for righting the U.S. economy, however, comes across as one-note: establish a hard spending cap, reduce government interference and allow businesses to flourish."

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Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson Freezes When Asked For His Plan To Help Middle Class

Brian Beutler | October 20, 2010, 12:15PM

Candidate for U.S. Senate Ron Johnson (R-WI)

Wisconsin Republican Senate hopeful Ron Johnson had a deer-in-headlights moment in a recent interview with the Green Bay Press Gazette.

Asked to explain his jobs plan, Johnson banged away at the GOP mantra: cutting spending, regulation, etc. That didn't satisfy the editors.

"There's no real jobs plan?" one interviewer asked.

"I would say bring fiscal discipline to the federal government," Johnson replied. "We've got to curb spending."

That didn't satisfy his interviewers.

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Ron Johnson

TPM Takes A Closer Look At Ron Johnson's Business Success

Brian Beutler | October 15, 2010, 9:11AM

Candidate for U.S. Senate Ron Johnson (R-WI)

Ron Johnson's campaign for Wisconsin Senate is premised largely on the notion that he's a successful businessman who knows how to create jobs.

Johnson owns a plastics company called PACUR in Oshkosh, WI. According to a recent report by the business research firm Investext, PACUR enjoyed estimated annual sales of $36 million, and employeed 100 people in 2009. His spokeswoman, Sara Sendek says it's a bit bigger than that -- about 120 employees.

With unemployment sky high, Johnson's been able to capitalize, politically, on his success, and has been leading his opponent, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), in the polls since July. "I'm not a politician," Johnson says in a recent ad. "I'm an accountant and a manufacturer. I know how to balance a budget, and I do know how to create jobs.'

However, Johnson's usually mum about the fact that one of his largest clients is Bemis, a publicly traded company founded by his now-deceased father in law, and currently run by his brother in law, Jeffrey Curler.

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Health Care

Bucking The Trend? Dems In Tough Races Run On Vote For Health Care Reform (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | October 14, 2010, 9:10AM

Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. John Larson (D-CT)

The conventional wisdom suggests that Democrats are "running scared" from health care reform. But the truth is that most Democrats have nothing to be afraid of -- and those who do, by and large, voted against it. Of course, some of the vulnerable Dems who voted for the bill are happy to avoid the subject. But a surprising number are running on reform, in ads, op-eds, and debates in their states and districts.

While it's true that a number of the most conservative and vulnerable Dems are outwardly repudiating their party's leadership, Speaker Pelosi herself yesterday sought to set the record straight on Democratic pride in reform.

"It's important to note -- and I say this all the time -- the plural of anecdote is not data," she told reporters. "At least 200 members are out there boasting the benefit of the health care bill. At least. There may be some who did vote for the bill who are not talking it up -- they didn't vote for it. There are others who are soft peddling it, maybe, because other issues are working for them better. "

Below the top five examples of Democrats turning the CW on its head.

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WI-SEN

Feingold Ad: Ron Johnson Wants Partial Privatization Of Social Security (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | October 13, 2010, 1:20PM

Ad from Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), "Off the Table"

In a new ad, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) repeats his pledge not to cut or privatize social security -- unlike his opponent, Republican Ron Johnson.

"For 75 years, Social Security has been a promise to American workers. But my opponent, Ron Johnson, supports changes that would undermine that promise," Feingold says. "Mr. Johnson says where Social Security is concerned, 'everything is on the table' -- even privatization for some."

"Here's my position," he continues, sweeping a bunch of kids toys (meant to represent Social Security cuts and other changes) off a table. "I oppose turning any part of Social Security over to Wall Street. That's why the national group to preserve Social Security supports me, Russ Feingold, and I support this message."

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Fiscal Commission

Andy Stern Says Fiscal Commission Shouldn't Be Dominated By GOP Ideas

Brian Beutler | October 13, 2010, 9:55AM

Andy Stern

Former SEIU President Andy Stern, who sits on President Obama's fiscal commission, says he will not endorse the panel's final recommendations if they are dominated by Republican ideas.

"There has to be a mix," Stern told me in an interview last night.

The bipartisan, 18 member panel has been tasked with providing policy guidance that will bring the country closer to fiscal balance. As TPM has reported, many of the Republican members are largely interested in securing spending cuts, and want to avoid tax increases of all kinds. Some are even pressing for lower tax rates for corporations, the cost of which could be offset by eliminating tax loopholes and giveaways (known officially as tax expenditures).

But Stern says he's looking for real tax increases. "I'm not an all-cut guy and I just don't know if tax expenditures can produce enough revenues on their own."

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WI-SEN

Who Is John Galt? The New Star Of Wisconsin Senate Race Debate!

Eric Kleefeld | October 12, 2010, 9:30AM

Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Senate candidate Ron Johnson (R-WI)

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) and his Republican opponent, businessman Ron Johnson, met last night for a debate, with topics ranging from health care to outside ad spending to...Atlas Shrugged.

That's right. A U.S. Senate debate ended up including a discussion on the 1957 novel by Ayn Rand, about a world where business owners and innovators rebel against and abandon a society that over-regulated them and redistributed their earnings. Johnson, who is himself a plastics manufacturer, has cited it as a favorite book of his.

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WI-SEN

Meet Ron Johnson: Wealthy Businessman, Global Warming Skeptic -- And Wisconsin's Next Senator?

Eric Kleefeld | October 11, 2010, 8:43AM

Candidate for U.S. Senate Ron Johnson (R-WI)

Who is Ron Johnson? He is a businessman who won the Republican nomination to run against three-term Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold in Wisconsin, and now leads in the polls thanks to the strongly anti-Dem environment -- and boy, has he said the darnedest things.

Johnson, a plastics manufacturer, came out of nowhere to win the state Republican Party convention endorsement back in May, after the party had previously failed to recruit its top potential candidate, former Gov. Tommy Thompson. Johnson won the state convention endorsement less than a week after he'd entered the race to begin with.

So what did he bring to the table? Money -- lots of it, and as of the most recent filings (covering the race through August 25) he has put int $4.4 million of his own cash.

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Ron Johnson

Johnson Testified To Protect Catholic Church From Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Brian Beutler and Johanna Barr | October 6, 2010, 1:01PM

Republican candidate for Senate Ron Johnson (WI).

As a member of the finance council for the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay until he resigned to run for Senate this year, Ron Johnson served alongside a bishop named Robert Morneau who, as a Church leader, had been made aware over two decades ago of the abusive tendencies of Rev. John Feeney.

Rev. Feeney was convicted in 2003, before Johnson joined the council, for sexually assaulting two brothers in the late 1970s. But according to documents obtained by the Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests (SNAP), the Church sought to cover up his crimes, which one reverend called "sexually very inappropriate."

Seven years later, Johnson testified before the Wisconsin State Senate against legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations for such crimes, making it easier for victims of sexual abuse to seek damages from the Church or any other culpable institution.

The testimony first arose in the context of the race in a June article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and has been dogging Johnson more or less ever since. His connection to Morneau raises questions about how familiar Johnson (who is not a Catholic) was with the diocese's hidden scandals. Those questions couldn't come at a worse time for the GOP hopeful, who leads Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) in the polls ahead of the November election.

TPM contacted numerous attorneys, advocates, and other members of the finance council of the Diocese of Green Bay to explain the finance council's role at the church, and the information it was privy to with respect to sexually abusive clergy. What we learned suggests that it's very difficult to separate Johnson's role as finance committee member from his role as legislative witness seeking to protect the Church from future lawsuits, when he told the panel, "I urge you to defeat this legislation."

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WI-SEN

NFL Complains About New Feingold Ad (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 5, 2010, 2:30PM

Ad from Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), "Number One"

The campaign of Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), who is in a tough race for re-election, is in a bit of trouble with yet another new opponent: the National Football League.

Feingold has a new TV ad featuring video of football players engaging in garish dances in the end zone, with an infamous 2005 video of then-Minnesota Vikings player Randy Moss making mooning gestures to the crowd.

"In pro football, they call this excessive celebration. And they punish it with fines and 15-yard penalties. It's exactly the kind of behavior that corporate special interests and Ron Johnson are engaging in," Feingold says. "They're dancing in the end zone because they think they're going to take down the U.S. senator who has been named the No. 1 enemy of Washington lobbyists. Fortunately, the game isn't over yet."

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WI-SEN

Rasmussen Poll: Feingold Trails By 12 Points

Eric Kleefeld | September 30, 2010, 6:17PM

Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Senate candidate Ron Johnson (R-WI)

The new Rasmussen poll of the Wisconsin Senate race gives Republican businessman Ron Johnson a whopping 12-point lead over Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold -- the largest gap in any poll yet.

The numbers: Johnson 54%, Feingold 42%. The survey of likely voters has a ±4% margin of error. In the previous Rasmussen poll from two weeks ago, Johnson led by 51%-44%.

The TPM Poll Average gives Johnson a lead of 53.0%-43.1%.

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WI-SEN

Feingold Runs On Health Care Reform Support In New Ad (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 30, 2010, 5:34PM

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), who has been trailing badly in the polls, is throwing something of a Hail Mary pass in his tough race against Republican businessman Ron Johnson. He's running an ad proudly in favor of the major health care reform law that has fired up the GOP base in opposition, and attacking Johnson for wanting to repeal its newfound patient protections.

As Ben Smith reports, Feingold's new ad features supporters speaking on behalf of Feingold's work on health care. "Senator Feingold has always been on our side, fighting the insurance companies...But Ron Johnson won't even get in the ring for us...Russ fought to stop insurance companies from denying Wisconsin children health care due to pre-existing conditions...Mr. Johnson would put insurance companies back in control...Letting them raise premiums and increase our costs whenever they want...Ron Johnson, hands off my health care."

Feingold concludes the ad: "I'm Russ Feingold, and I approve this message, because you deserve a Senator who's on your side."

The TPM Poll Average gives Johnson a lead of 53.0%-43.1%.

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WI-SEN

WI-SEN GOPer Johnson Opposed Bill To Crack Down On Catholic Church Abuse Scandals

Eric Kleefeld | September 30, 2010, 3:57PM

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)

Ron Johnson, the businessman and Republican nominee for Senate in Wisconsin against Russ Feingold, is now coming under fire for a previous foray into a public position that he took last January: When he testified against a bill that would have made it easier for adults who had been victims of childhood sexual abuse to sue the responsible organizations such as the Catholic Church.

Earlier this year, the Wisconsin legislature considered a bill as a result of the Catholic Church's abuse scandals, which would have eliminated the statute of limitations for victims to sue organizations responsible for sexual abuse, and created a three-year window for past victims to file new lawsuits. The bill, which failed to pass, was opposed by the insurance industry and church organizations -- and by Johnson, who had served on the Green Bay diocese's financial council. (Johnson is not Catholic himself, but a Lutheran.)

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WI-SEN

MoveOn: 'Feingold's In Trouble'

Eric Kleefeld | September 29, 2010, 12:58PM

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)

MoveOn is now raising money for Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), a longtime progressive champion. And they're really taking the hard sell -- with a dire warning that he's in serious danger.

The TPM Poll Average gives Republican businessman Ron Johnson a lead of 52.2%-43.6%. Polling has suggested that this is in large part due to a severe enthusiasm gap, with Dem voters less likely to turn out in this blue-leaning swing state.

MoveOn has a new fundraising email, out, entitled "Russ Feingold's in trouble." The title and the overall phrasing of the message itself seem tailored to jump-start Dems with the necessary sense of urgency.

Read more »

WI-SEN

GOPer Ron Johnson's Ad In WI-SEN: I'm Not A Lawyer (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 28, 2010, 2:33PM

Ad from candidate for U.S. Senate Ron Johnson (R-WI), "57"

Ron Johnson, the Republican nominee against Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold in the Wisconsin Senate race, has a new ad that pretty much sums up his campaign pitch, presenting himself as a political outsider and businessman in the middle of a seemingly anti-incumbent environment.

"There are 100 members of the U.S. Senate. Fifty-seven of them -- including Russ Feingold -- are lawyers," says Johnson, standing in front of a large whiteboard and writing out the figures with a marker. "That'd be fine, if we had a lawsuit to settle. But we have an economy to fix. There are zero manufacturers and one accountant. It's no wonder we're losing jobs and piling up debt. I'm not a politician. I'm an accountant and a manufacturer. I know how to balance a budget, and I do know how to create jobs. Now that's something we could really use."

The TPM Poll Average gives Johnson a lead of 52.2%-43.6%.

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WI-SEN

Fox News Poll: GOPer Johnson Leads Feingold By 8 Points In WI-SEN

Eric Kleefeld | September 28, 2010, 11:18AM

Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Senate candidate Ron Johnson (R-WI)

The new Fox News poll of the Wisconsin Senate race has bad news for Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold, with an eight-point lead for Republican businessman Ron Johnson.

The numbers: Johnson 52%, Feingold 44%. The survey of likely voters has a ±3% margin of error. There is no previous Fox News poll of this race. However, this poll was conducted through a Rasmussen offshoot, Pulse Opinion Research, which performs made-to-order robopolls. In the previous Rasmussen poll from two weeks ago, Johnson led by a similar margin of 51%-44%.

The TPM Poll Average gives Johnson a lead of 52.2%-43.6%.

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Tea Party

Tea Party Candidates Benefit From Stimulus, Federal Spending

Brian Beutler | September 24, 2010, 8:30AM

Republican candidate for Senate Ron Johnson (WI).

Tea party backed Republican candidates -- indeed most Republican candidates -- base their campaigns largely on opposition to President Obama's agenda, and an imprecise pledge to reduce the federal deficit. Perhaps no single issue encapsulates that pledge better than the Democrats' stimulus bill -- one of the President's signature initiatives that is, by design, a big deficit booster. Government can't create jobs, they say, the stimulus wasted tax payer dollars, and simply bloated the federal government.

Scratch under the surface a bit, though, and these candidates' opposition to government spending isn't very deep at all -- particularly when they benefit directly.

Ron Johnson, who claims "government doesn't create jobs," and who's hoping to unseat Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), has perhaps the longest record of benefiting from government largesse.

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WI-SEN

CNN/Time Poll: Feingold Behind By 6 In WI-SEN Race

Marc Kilstein | September 22, 2010, 6:01PM

Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Senate candidate Ron Johnson (R-WI)

A new CNN/Time poll of the Wisconsin Senate race finds Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold trailing Republican businessman Ron Johnson 51%-45%.

This is the first CNN/Time poll on the race, so there are no numbers available for direct comparison. A PPP survey out yesterday saw the three-term Democratic Senator down 52%-41%. Rasmussen polled the race on September 15 and found Johnson on top of Feingold, 51%-44%.

The margin of error for the latest survey is ±3.0 percentage points. The TPM Poll Average shows Johnson ahead in the contest 51.8%-43.5%.

For more on the race, check out TPMDC's full coverage here.

WI-SEN

Feingold Ad: I Haven't Changed -- And I Live In The Same House (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 22, 2010, 4:34PM

Ad from Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), "Garage Door"

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) has a new TV ad hearkening back to his old spots from his first Senate race in 1992, when the unknown and underfunded state Senator came from behind to win huge victories in both the Democratic primary and the general election. The obvious message is that he's still the humble guy he was back then.

"Back when I first ran for the Senate, I said I would shoot straight, be independent, and fight for Wisconsin. I promised to stay connected to home. I was just a Middleton guy, running against multimillionaires with lots of TV ads," Feingold says in a voiceover on top of his old ads, which notably featured him posting his campaign promises on his garage door.

The ad then cuts to the present, with Feingold again in front of his house: "Not much has changed today. I still live in the same house, and I continue to always keep my promise to put the people of Wisconsin ahead of any party or corporate interest. Except now I put my promises on my website -- not my garage door."

Another thing that hasn't changed: Feingold is running against another multimillionaire, businessman Ron Johnson, who has lots of TV ads. The TPM Poll Average gives Johnson a lead of 52.0%-42.8%.

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