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From left: Tommy Thompson, Mark Neumann, Jeff Fitzgerald, Eric Hovde
Posted on 07/11/2012 9:52:15 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Former Gov. Tommy Thompson and wealthy political newcomer Eric Hovde are running neck and neck for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in Wisconsin, according to a new survey by Public Policy Polling.
Hovde leads Thompson 31% to 29% among people who say they plan to vote in the GOP Senate primary, followed by former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann at 15% and state Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald at 9%, with 16% undecided.
The Public Policy Polling survey shows a much tighter race than a poll last month by Marquette University Law School in which Thompson led Neumann and Hovde by double digits.
Hovde, a community banker and hedge fund manager, has heavily outspent the other Senate candidates so far.
Neumann unveiled his first ad Tuesday in the race for U.S. Senate and said in a news conference he'd like to see all the Republicans participate in more debates.
"I'd like to see a debate in every major media market," Neumann said. "That's the only way you offset all the other things in the race (from third-party groups)."
Two debates are planned before the Aug. 14 primary. The winner will face U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, the only Democrat in the race.
Neumann's ad focuses on repealing the federal health care law that was upheld last month by the U.S. Supreme Court. Neumann is late to the airwaves; Thompson and Hovde issued their first ads weeks ago, though Fitzgerald has yet to run any. Neumann said he believed his ad strategy was the best one because he had preserved his cash for the final weeks of the campaign.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
From left: Tommy Thompson, Mark Neumann, Jeff Fitzgerald, Eric Hovde
Wisconsin ping: Senate Primary update
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
We don’t need anymore RINO’s like Tommy back in power; enough! I’ll vote for anybody else!
I’ve heard all of them speaking from the same platform. Tommy comes off as an angry old man yelling at us. Furthermore, he directly counters positions that he publically took as recently as 9 months ago. Added to the rest of his baggage, he would be my last choice.
For Me
1. Hovde
2. Newman
3. Thompson
4. Fitzgerald (would be 2 or 3, but doesn’t even really seem to be running and he’s awesome in the State Congress, should stay there and help Walker)
Hovde & Johnson as our Senators would be awesome!
Thompson, of course, is Out.
FWIW, Fitzgerald will be resigning his position in Jan. whether he wins the Senate seat or not, so the desire to keep him in state politics is moot.
TOMMY THE TWO-FISTED TIPPLER TANKS!
Tommy, for all youve done, here is a well deserved single finger salute.
Which one will beat the Democrat in the fall?
NO MORE POLITICIANS, VOTE HOVDE.
The most competent one. Hovde is more or less following Ron Johnson's spectacularly successful playbook. TT is, I think, a step or two - or three - slow. Fitzgerald has been quiet so far; wonder if he's decided he can't match Hovde's spending. Neumann would have been a US Senator already had he been a tough campaigner; repeated campaigns and rumored campaigns have lead to Neumann fatigue.
Ideologically, between Fitzgerald and Hovde, Fitzgerald has proven he's trustworthy with a strong public record, while Hovde does not have a record; it's up to the voter to decide if he's trustworthy.
Any one should defeat Baldwin. She’s left of Stalin.
I don’t know anything about Eric Hovde specifically but I will say, generally, BEWARE any “wealthy political newcomer.”
You mean like Wisconsin’s other Senator, Ron Johnson ?
Hovde is not a newcomer; he just made his money elsewhere. He was born and raised in WI.
I think any of them can beat the Dem.
I find the easiest way is to talk to the candidate - you can usually tell the genuine article in person.
Go Hovde.
That’s true as well.
I was frankly shocked to see that photograph of Tommy Thompson. He REALLY looks old and I think that combined with his erratic behavior (senility ?) could seriously undermine his candidacy in the general.
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