WI-SEN

Wis. GOP Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald Running For Senate

Eric Kleefeld | August 30, 2011, 10:25AM

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R)

Another Republican has thrown his hat into the ring for the Wisconsin Senate seat being opened up by the retirement of Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl. And the latest candidate has a big name: State Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald -- who along with his brother, state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, and Gov. Scott Walker, has been instrumental in passing the anti-public employee union legislation that sparked the wave of protests, recall elections, and other big controversies in Wisconsin.

Fitzgerald confirmed his candidacy to the Wausau Daily Herald on Monday:

He said he would apply his experience in the Wisconsin Legislature to the Senate.

"We have the same problems here (in Wisconsin) as we have in D.C.," he said, citing excessive taxation as an example. He said the national debt must be brought under control and that "we need to start making stuff in this country."

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WI-SEN

GOPer Mark Neumann Announces Senate Campaign In Wisconsin

Eric Kleefeld | August 29, 2011, 1:56PM

Former Rep. Mark Neumann (R-WI)

Former Rep. Mark Neumann (R-WI) officially launched his campaign for U.S. Senate Monday, setting up a likely Republican primary against the more moderate former Gov. Tommy Thompson.

Neumann announced his campaign in an interview with conservative talk radio host Charlie Sykes, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Neumann's likely opponent Thompson has been gearing up for the race, and has already been attacked by the conservative group the Club For Growth.

Some of Neumann's former aides now work at the Club For Growth, though Neumann said in the interview that he would not have any control over what the group does. "They support conservative candidates. We hope they'll support us," Neumann said of the Club. And regarding his former staffers, he said: "They are conservative people and they are dedicated to reducing wasteful spending."

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WI-SEN

Club For Growth Ad Slams Tommy Thompson In Wis. Senate Race (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | August 23, 2011, 9:55AM

The right-wing Club For Growth is wasting no time in taking a shot at Republican former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, who is poised to officially enter race for the state's open Democratic-held Senate seat. They've released a new TV ad seeking to tie Thompson to President Obama and health care reform.

Of course, Thompson does not yet have an opponent. But the Club has been dismissive of Thompson for months, and has released poll data suggesting that the relatively moderate Thompson could be vulnerable to a primary challenge from the right.

"Tommy Thompson has been a politician since way back in 1966," the announcer says. "But do you know his record? As governor, Thompson supported massive tax and spending increases."

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Wisconsin

Tommy Thompson Announces Co-Chairs For Upcoming Wisconsin Senate Bid

Eric Kleefeld | August 18, 2011, 12:33PM

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI)

Tommy Thompson, the former four-term Wisconsin governor and Bush-era Health and Human Services Secretary, has now taken significant steps toward running for the open Senate seat in his state, where Democrat Herb Kohl is retiring.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Thompson has announced two co-chairs for his nascent campaign: Former top political aide Jim Klauser, and current state Attorney General JB. Van Hollen.

"I'm honored to have the support and commitment of Jim and J.B.," Thompson said in a statement. "We need to get America working again. We can do better, and it begins with getting government out the way of creating the jobs that make our families and communities stronger."

Following Kohl's retirement announcement in May, Thompson said that he would wait until after the very high-profile state Senate recalls, which concluded this past Tuesday, to make a decision about whether he would run for the U.S. Senate.

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WI-SEN

PPP Poll: Feingold Way Ahead For WI-SEN Dem Nod, Thompson Could Face GOP Troubles

Eric Kleefeld | May 27, 2011, 3:00PM

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI) and former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)

A new survey of Wisconsin from Public Policy Polling (D) finds that in the open Senate race, where Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl is retiring, former Sen. Russ Feingold could potentially have a lock on the Dem nomination if he wanted it -- but that former Gov. Tommy Thompson might face a competitive contest on the GOP side.

If Feingold were to run -- following his defeat for re-election after three terms, in the 2010 Republican wave -- the poll shows him starting out with a whopping 70% support in a Democratic primary, followed in a very distant second place of 12% by Rep. Tammy Baldwin, who has been eyeing the race, and several other names in single digits.

If Feingold did not run, Baldwin would start with 30%, followed by former Rep. Steve Kagen (who also lost in 2010) with 17%, Rep. Ron Kind with 16%, state Sen. Jon Erpenbach with 13%, and several others in single digits.

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WI-SEN

PPP Poll: Feingold Leads In WI-SEN Race, GOPer Thompson Only Close Against Other Dems

Eric Kleefeld | May 24, 2011, 12:40PM

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI) and former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)

A new survey of the Wisconsin Senate race from Public Policy Polling (D), where Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl is retiring, gives the potential Democratic candidates consistent leads over any Republican who isn't named Tommy Thompson -- and even Thompson, the former four-term governor and Bush-era Health and Human Services Secretary, would face a close race.

Several different potential Democratic candidates were tested out against several Republicans, in a swing state that has become the center of a polarizing political debate over labor unions in the wake of Republican Gov. Scott Walker's anti-public employee union legislation.

"Russ Feingold's going to start out as a solid favorite if he wants to go back to the Senate," writes PPP president Dean Debnam. "His loss last year had less to do with him than the national political climate and because of Scott Walker's unpopularity things have shifted back toward the Democrats more quickly in Wisconsin than most other places."

The poll of registered voters was conducted from May 19-22, and has a ±2.4% margin of error.

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WI-SEN

Club For Growth Slams Tommy Thompson: 'April Fools Was Weeks Ago'

Eric Kleefeld | May 18, 2011, 4:14PM

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI)

Tommy Thompson, the former Wisconsin governor and Bush-era Health and Human Services secretary who is widely expected to run for his state's open Democrat-held Senate seat, could now face some stiff opposition from his right -- namely from the right-wing activist group the Club For Growth, which came out strongly against him this afternoon.

The Club said in a statement:

"Tommy Thompson raised taxes as Governor, supported ObamaCare, and now he wants to run for the United States Senate? April Fools was weeks ago," said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. "Wisconsin Republicans should recruit a pro-growth conservative to run, not recall some big-government pro-tax Republican whose time has come and gone. Club members are watching Wisconsin's Senate race closely.

Keep in mind that the Club is perhaps most known for the determination with which it backs primary challengers over establishment-backed moderate GOP candidates, and even GOP incumbents.

So a statement like this is not to be taken lightly, as Thompson mulls his final decision about running.

WI-SEN

Reports: Tommy Thompson In, Ryan Out For Wisconsin Senate Seat

Eric Kleefeld | May 17, 2011, 9:34AM

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)

This post has been updated at 11 a.m. ET.

Paul Ryan (R-WI), whose proposal to privatize Medicare has become the focus of current political debates, will not run for the Senate seat from which Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl is retiring. Instead, former Wisconsin Governor and Bush-era Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson will reportedly be getting in.

Ryan said in a statement posted on his campaign site, in part:

For my family and me, the most important factor in making this decision was determining where I could make the biggest difference. Our nation is quickly approaching a debt crisis that will do serious damage to Wisconsinites and all Americans if it is not properly addressed. I believe continuing to serve as Chairman of the House Budget Committee allows me to have a greater impact in averting this debt-fueled economic crisis than if I were to run for the United States Senate.

National Journal and Politico reported Ryan's plans earlier today, and that Thompson would get in.

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WI-SEN

Feingold Takes A Victory Lap After Thompson Says No To WI-SEN

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 20, 2010, 1:42PM

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)

Sen. Russ Feingold's (D-WI) campaign is patting itself on the back today after last week's news that former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) won't run against the incumbent Democrat.

Thompson had been expected to run for months, and polls showed he would have made it tough for Feingold to win a fourth term. Without him in the fight, however, it looks like smooth sailing ahead (so far) for the Feingold team.

Feingold's campaign is taking credit for keeping Thompson on the fence for so long -- and for pushing him out of the race all together.

"[W]ith your help, the strength of our campaign forced Tommy Thompson out of the U.S. Senate race," Feingold Sr. Strategist John Kraus wrote in an email to supporters today. "There can be no doubt that he saw what he would be up against and decided not to get in the ring because he saw a fight he could not win."

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WI-SEN

It's Official: Tommy Thompson Not Running For Senate Against Feingold

Eric Kleefeld | April 15, 2010, 2:01PM

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI)

Tommy Thompson, the former Wisconsin governor and ex-Bush administration Secretary of Health and Human Services, has just announced that he will not challenge Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold -- a rare instance this cycle of Senate Republicans failing to get their strongest possible candidate.

"My family did not want me to run," Thompson told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, just before he took the stage to speak at a Tea Party event in Madison.

Thompson was probably the GOP's best shot at beating Feingold, with the TPM Poll Average showing him ahead of the incumbent by 45.3%-41.9%. By contrast, Feingold is ahead of the two Republicans who are already in the race, leading businessman Terrence Wall by 50.7%-37.0%, and leading businessman Dave Westlake by 49.4%-34.2%.

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WI-SEN

Tommy Thompson To Announce Senate Campaign Decision Tomorrow At Tea Party

Eric Kleefeld | April 14, 2010, 1:26PM

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI)

Tommy Thompson, the former Wisconsin governor and ex-Bush administration Secretary of Health and Human Services, is set to announce tomorrow just whether or not he will run for Senate against incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold, his spokesman confirms to TPM.

It was reported this morning by WTMJ radio in Milwaukee that Thompson had decided against a run -- but then Thompson himself denied it, saying he had not made any decision. Thompson spokesman Jason Denby told TPMDC: "The accurate report is that he had a call last night with his close confidantes. And at the time, at the end of the call, he was undecided completely. He is going to give a speech tomorrow at this rally, this Tea party rally in Madison. And by the end of the speech, he'll have laid out his decision. So he's kind of finalizing everything in his head, whichever way he's leaning today."

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WI-SEN

Thompson Denies That He Won't Run For Senate: 'I Don't Know What I'm Going To Do'

Eric Kleefeld | April 14, 2010, 10:01AM

Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI) and Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI)

Is former Wisconsin governor and ex-Bush administration HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson running for Senate against Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold, or not? Thompson is denying a report that he has decided not to run, but he isn't saying that he is running, either -- or that he even knows what he is doing.

WTMJ radio in Milwaukee reported that a source close to Thompson's family said that Thompson would not be running. However, Thompson himself told the Associated Press that he has not made up his mind: "The only person who knows what I'm going to do is myself and I don't know what I'm going to do."

Thompson is probably the GOP's best shot at beating Feingold, with the TPM Poll Average showing him ahead of the incumbent by 45.3%-41.9%. By contrast, Feingold is ahead of the two Republicans who are already in the race, leading businessman Terrence Wall by 50.7%-37.0%, and leading businessman Dave Westlake by 49.4%-34.2%.

WI-SEN

Poll: Feingold Narrowly Leads Thompson

Eric Kleefeld | March 29, 2010, 3:07PM

Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI) and Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI)

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll gives Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) a narrow lead over Tommy Thompson, a Republican former four-term governor and former Bush administration Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The numbers: Feingold 48%, Thompson 44%, with a ±4% margin of error. Thompson is not currently in the race, but has been considering it. Feingold has stronger leads over the two declared Republican candidates, leading businessman Terrence Wall by 52%-37%, and leading businessman Dave Westlake by 54%-36%.

The TPM Poll Average gives Thompson a narrow edge of 45.9%-45.6%, with recent movement showing Feingold closing the gap. The average also has Feingold leading Wall by 50.7%-37.0%, and leading Westlake by 49.4%-34.2%.

WI-SEN

Poll: Feingold In Close Race With Thompson

Eric Kleefeld | March 23, 2010, 10:59AM

Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI) and Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI)

The new survey from Public Policy Polling (D) gives Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) a narrow lead over possible opponent Tommy Thompson, a former longtime Wisconsin governor and later Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush.

The numbers, among registered voters: Feingold 47%, Thompson 44%, with a ±3.7% margin of error. Feingold leads the two Republican businessmen already in the race, leading Terrence Wall by 48%-34% and Dave Westlake by 48%-31%. Thompson is not currently in the race, but has been considering it. The TPM Poll Average gives Thompson a narrow lead of 46.9%-44.3%.

Keep in mind that this is a poll of registered voters, not likely voters, so much will depend on the political climate and the different levels of voter motivation in November.

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WI-SEN

Is Russ Feingold In Trouble This Fall?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 16, 2010, 3:43PM

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)

Three recent polls -- each not without its critics -- show Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) trailing in a hypothetical match up with former Wisconsin governor and Bush administration cabinet member Tommy Thompson (R). He hasn't decided whether he'll seek the GOP nomination yet, but is rumored to be seriously considering it.

If he does, polling suggests Thompson could depose one of the strongest progressive voices in the Senate. With the two latest polls added in, the TPM Poll Average for the race shows Thompson leading Feingold by a margin of 46-42.8.

Media reports have picked up on the polls, painting the picture of an incumbent on the ropes. The Feingold campaign rejects that assertion outright, claiming that the polls are the problem, not the Senator.

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Russ Feingold

Poll: Feingold In Good Shape For 2010, Ahead Of Tommy Thompson

Eric Kleefeld | November 24, 2009, 11:17AM

Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI) and Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI)

A new survey of Wisconsin by Public Policy Polling (D) finds Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold ahead of former Gov. Tommy Thompson, who has been mulling a possible challenge to the three-term incumbent.

The numbers: Feingold 50%, Thompson 41%, with a ±3.5% margin of error. Feingold is also tested against the two lesser-known Republican businessmen currently in the race, leading Dave Westlake by 47%-32% and Terrence Wall by 48%-34%.

Feingold has an approval rating of 45%, with a disapproval of 37%, and President Obama's rating is tied at 47%-47%. Thompson, despite having been elected governor four times in the 1980's and 1990's, has not fared well since he left office to become Georg eW. Bush's first Secretary of Health and Human Services, and later an unsuccessful presidential candidate -- his favorable rating is in negative territory, at 38%-45%.

"A lot of Democrats were scared yet another of their seats would go on the vulnerable list when Tommy Thompson said he was interested in running for the Senate last week," said PPP president Dean Debnam, in the pollster's analysis. "But Thompson's popularity is not what it used to be, and it looks like Russ Feingold is in a solid position."

Tommy Thompson

Tommy Thompson Could Run For Senate, Or Governor -- Or Small-Town Mayor

Eric Kleefeld | November 18, 2009, 1:04PM

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI)

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson appears to be considering any number of political comebacks, ranging from a return to the state's open governorship, to a Senate run -- in which he would likely be a very strong challenger to Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold -- or perhaps even mayor of a small town.

"I haven't said no," Thompson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I'm looking at it. I'm looking at governor, I'm looking at senator and I'm looking at mayor of Elroy. One of the three."

For your information, Elroy is Thompson's home town. I just called the city hall, and they told me the population is approximately 1,500 people.

Thompson was elected to four terms as governor, starting in 1986 and only left when President George W. Bush appointed him as Secretary of Health and Human Services. He ran for the Republican nomination for president in 2008, but dropped out in the face of bad poll numbers and fundraising in the middle of 2007. He was frequently talked about as a potential Senate candidate in the 1990s and 2000s, but has never run.

(Via Political Wire)

Arnold Schwarzenegger

White House Urges High Profile GOPers To Wax Positive About Health Care Reform

Brian Beutler | October 7, 2009, 9:07AM

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA)

You know the recent spate of outside-the-Beltway GOPers saying positive things about health care reform? Bill Frist? Arnold Schwarzenegger? Tommy Thompson? Republican-turned-Independent Michael Bloomberg?

Well, it turns out the White House may have been nudging them a little.

That could resonate well with pockets of constituents around the country. But according to the Washington Post, the real target of the push was a single person from one of the smallest states in the country: "The White House lobbying campaign was aimed, in part, at the one Republican who has indicated she may vote for reform legislation, Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (Maine), and she said Tuesday that she hopes the comments from her GOP colleagues will resonate," the Post reports.

So did it work? Snowe seemed pleased: "I think it is important to hear all voices in the party," Snowe said. "The more we hear, the more we learn, the better job we can do in the final analysis."