Tommy Thompson weighing Russ Feingold challenge

[cali]

By JONATHAN MARTIN | 1/21/10 6:31 AM EST


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 take on Feingold, who is one of the body's most liberal senators.

That Thompson is seriously weighing a bid against Feingold illustrates how promising Republicans believe this November could be for the party. After Scott Brown's shocking win Tuesday in the Massachusetts special Senate election and victories in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial contests last November, GOP officials believe it will become easier to woo potential candidates.

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http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31780.html

[KharmaTrain]

1. Go Back In Your Hole, Tommy...

Russ would easily clean Thompson's clock. Wisconsin is a solid Blue state and many have less than fond memories of his days as governor...and even worse feelings about his association with the booosh regime. He thought he could be President, too. Tommy's future is as a Wal Mart greeter.

[cali]

2. MA is a solidly blue state, blah blah blah

sure, Feingold is no Coakley but what with the SC yesterday, taking for granted that Russ or practically anyone else is safe, is a mistake. Thompson, if he runs, will be funded up the wazoo by big coroporate money. And Wisconsin is not that solidly blue.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Russ Has Faced This Before

Remember, he doesn't take corporate money and in his first couple elections he beat very well-funded challengers. He definitely isn't a Coakley...he's a very known commodity all over the state and highly respected. I'd bet his favorables are 60% or better...I doubt Thompson...who is also a known commodity...comes close.

Then there's a matter of style...no matter how much you try to dress Thompson up, he's still as exciting as a dishrag...especially in comparison with Feingold...a debate would be brutal.

Let the corporates flood their money...go wild...they can't win every race in every state and if they try its gonna cost them dearly. My new tagline...you can try, but my votes not for sale.

Cheers...

[FBaggins]

7. Feingold isn't a Coakley to be sure... but Thompson isn't a Brown either.

He is no less a "very known commodity" than Feingold... not less "highly respected" (though by different people of course).

He was, after all, elected statewide for four consecutive terms. He won his last couple races by over twenty points (his most recent being the same year that Feingold won by three).

I think that Feingold would win... but I was far more certain that Coakley would win. And this would certainly be a race.

More importantly, it would be a headline. The drumbeat leading in to November would be "can Republicans take back the Senate" when just a few short months ago it was will they pick up any seats at all.

[KharmaTrain]

11. A Fluid Landscape...

You bring up valid points and well taken. The big variable is the mood of the electorate as the year transpires. There's unrest on all sides...the Democrats have a record to stand up for or live down and if the economy remains in the terlit it's going to hang over every candidate like a millstone. But the GOOP doesn't have a lot of room to move itself as the teabaggers will create headaches...and one surely could stand in Tommy's way to a nomination...I don't see him being another Brown in galvanizing their support, especially if there's a contentuous primary. Of course the middle has a lot of sway here, and that will be won by the candidate that puts together the better campaign.

I can't see Feingold making many of Coakley's mistakes...it takes a terrible candidate to plummet so fast in the polls so quickly. The one thing that Feingold will have that Coakley doesn't is the 18-30 vote...having his base in Madison is a good place to be. Yes, Thompson would be a formidable opponent, but I think his baggage continues too much dirty laundry. Unlike Brown who could bullshit a record most didn't pay attention to...Thompson's record is known and can't play the media darling.

The corporate media has already begun that drumbeat, but with low popularity ratings and poor leadership on their own, the rushpublicans will be hard-pressed to take control of either House. While things look bleak at the present time, we're a long way from November.

[FBaggins]

5. Feingold would have to be favored... but it wouldn't be "easy" at all

That would be a very competitive race... and we can ill afford another one.

There's no question that Tuesday's disaster means that some top-tier republicans who would otherwise be unwilling to be sacrificial lambs against well known incumbents... will now consider getting into races that were formerly considered "safe".

Until a week ago there was little chance that we were going to have to concentrate on WI, IN...or maybe CA and NY. Now we almost certainly will.

There's no question that there are enough seats in play for republicans to retake the Senate... and a year ago the only question was whether we would pick up one more seat or three.

Charlie Cook said it best: "...the Massachusetts results create more than just a ripple effect. The question is no longer, "Which Democrats are vulnerable?" but rather "Which Democrats are safe?"


Feingold isn't one of them if Thompson gets into the race.

[Political Heretic]

13. ALL the rules changed with SC ruling yesterday.

[KharmaTrain]

16. Don't Slash The Wrists Yet...

My new saying: they can try to buy it all they want, but my vote isn't for sale and neither should anyone else's. Senator Feingold has faced well funded candidates in the past and won...and remember, he's always refused lobbyist money. When it comes down to brass tacks, the corporates can throw all the money they want to try to buy off what part of the government they don't already own, but money can't put lipstick on a pig like Thompson. If anything, we could see a backlash on those who spend like drunken sailors or who have big corporates pulling the strings...

[Political Heretic]

17. That's a lovely cliche that is totally untrue.

Corporations have never been able to unlimitedly spend money on every dimension of the political process, from advertising to paying community organizers to get out the vote.

Almost anywhere you see a 3:1 or greater difference in spending you a victory for the spender.

Money buys politics, and what you wrote is the cheesiest try and suggesting yesterdays decision was not the most important and radical change to our political landscape in decades.

So I guess.. just every other legal analyst, policy wonk and economist will have to say it for you.

[Dinger]

3. Wisconsin Won't Be Massachusetts. Fuck You tommy

Russ WILL kick your fucking ass.

[cali]

6. it'll take more than bravado to keep Russ safe if tommy boy runs

it'll take a lot of dollars.

[FBaggins]

8. Dollars that we need for PA,NV,MA,IL,CT,DE,AR,CO, & NY

Not to mention KY,OH,NH,MO,LA,CA,FL and (please) NC.

[FBaggins]

9. A poll run three months ago had Thompson up by three

With both garnering 54% popularity ratings.

http://www.news.wisc.edu/17172

[PVnRT]

10. Hopefully, he gets the support he needs

[saigon68]

12. Thompson is a consummate politician

I had dinner with him once, there were 25 people invited to the Governor's mansion. I have never met anyone so engaging with a small group. He dresses like a hick, and sometimes talks like a hick BUT DON'T underestimate this clown. He has a photographic memory and is extremely engaging.

He got rid of a fine democratic Governor Tony Earl, and WON 4 consecutive elections for Governator. When the house of cards he created was crumbling in early 2001-his Lt Gov, Scott McCallum took over as the fall guy and was blamed for the whole mess.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_McCallum

The average voter thinks he is a Reagan arisen from the dead, around here.

My take--- Tommy is going to kick Russ out with dozens of millions of Unocal, GE and Citi, Chase, Goldman Sachs, BoA Bank Corp contributions if he runs.

[Political Heretic]

14. Thanks to the Supreme Court, he would win.

[cali]

15. Well, the likelihood of that outcome certainly increased hugely

after yesterday.