2012 US Senate campaign

Baldwin's campaign shows savvy, to set up in Milwaukee

October 13, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

Tammy Baldwin has hired an experienced campaign manager with good national connections.

The best news in the Roll Call story may be this:

Karin Johanson is taking leave from her position as a principal at the Dewey Square Group and is headed to Milwaukee as soon as she lines up office space in the area.

That's a smart decision. Statewide campaigns based in Milwaukee have a different feel and different view of the state. For Democrats, it is where the votes and money are. For Madison-based Baldwin, setting up shop in the city is a good first step.

I ain't Art Kumbalek, but I told you so.

Ryan's Medicare plan poses a big problem for Wisconsin GOP Senate candidates

October 3, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

Paul Ryan opted out of running for Herb Kohl's Senate seat next year. But he left a little something behind. His Medicare plan -- to end Medicare as we know it and replace it with a type of voucher plan that would cost seniors more -- is very much going to be a part of the 2012 Senate race in Wisconsin.

The problem for GOP candidates, who are fighting in the primary to win the party's conservative base, is that while Republican voters tend to like Ryan's plan, most other voters don't. It will take some careful positioning to finesse the problem Ryan has created for them.

Of course, Mark Neumann doesn't need to prove his conservative bona fides. It's former governor Tommy T who's getting flak about being too liberal for 21st Century Republicanism.

Maybe to prove himself Tommy will come out to the right of Neumann on Medicare and Social Security. But that could kill him in November.

This little dance could be fun for Democrats to watch.

Quote, unquote

September 30, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

"If I had a nickel for every person that said to me, you know, Mark, we told you to run for Senate before, glad you’re running for Senate now, or we like both you and Scott, we’re glad you’re running because we wanted to vote for both of you, I wouldn’t have to go out and fundraise for my campaign."- Mark Neumann.

Let's do the math. Ron Johnson spent $10 million last year on his Senate race. So Neumann, at a nickel apiece, must have talked to 200 million people who want him to run. If that's the case, he definitely should.