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Sometimes it's hard to figure out who the real Tommy Thompson is. There's the Thompson who chided state employee unions this month for complaining about Gov. Scott Walker's proposals to increase the amount workers pay for pensions and health care. "He says to the unions and the bosses, 'We're going to ask you to help.' Oh, isn't that tough? Awwww," Thompson said sarcastically at the Walker rally on Jan. 21. "We're going to say we would like you to pay 5% of your retirement. Now you tell me what's wrong with that. And you tell me, is that a crime?"...

(Reuters) - Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson said Monday he planned to join the increasingly crowded race for the Wisconsin senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Herb Kohl.

MADISON, Wis. — Former two-term Republican congressman Mark Neumann announced Monday that he will run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Wisconsin Democrat Herb Kohl. Mr. Neumann is the first to officially announce his candidacy in the 2012 race, but several other prominent Republicans and Democrats are expected to announce soon. One of them, former Gov. Tommy Thompson, a Republican, released a statement welcoming Mr. Neumann into the race and urging him to focus his campaign on the policies of President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat. “Republican voters deserve a primary campaign based...

One week after the last of the nine recall elections in Wisconsin were held and Republicans clung to their majority in the state senate, there are strong signs Republican strength in the Badger State is on the rise. Not only has the long-planned Democratic attempt to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker run out of steam, but the odds have risen dramatically on a Republican pickup of the seat of retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl in 2012. After more than $40 million spent by both sides in the nationally watched recall contests long considered the “dress rehearsal” for a January...

Democrat Russ Feingold leads Republican Tommy Thompson in a hypothetical U.S. Senate matchup in a new Wisconsin survey by Public Policy Polling. You can find the firm’s analysis here, with matchups of other potential candidates on both sides. Feingold and Thompson are easily the best-known of all the political figures in the survey. Wisconsin will have an open Senate seat next year, due to Democrat Herb Kohl’s planned retirement. In the statewide poll of 1,636 voters taken May 19-22, Feingold leads former Gov. Thompson 52% to 42%. Feingold leads other Republicans (Mark Neumann, J.B. Van Hollen and Jeff Fitzgerald) by...

Just a few years ago, Tommy Thompson was a well-regarded former governor of Wisconsin. Now it looks like recent attacks on Thompson for his alleged support of Obamacare, by the Club for Growth and others, are starting to take a toll. Thompson, who's contemplating running for Senate in Wisconsin to replace the retiring Herb Kohl, only got 20 percent of the vote and lost the straw poll for Senate nominees at the state's annual GOP convention today. Here are the totals: Ted Kanavas - 73 Tommy Thompson - 61 J.B. Van Hollen - 40 Mark Neumann - 33 Tim Michels...

From Mike Allen’s morning newsletter today: Tommy Thompson, the Republican former Wisconsin governor and George W. Bush’s first HHS secretary, has told friends he plans to run for the open Senate seat in Wisconsin. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) said Friday that he won’t seek a fifth term in 2012. Thompson’s announcement gives Republicans a popular former two-term governor of state to seriously challenge for this toss-up seat. There’s no chance Thompson would run against Paul Ryan, so the former Wisconsin Governor will await the Budget Chairman’s official announcement on the race before jumping in. Ryan has suggested in private conversations...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55108.html

Former Governor Makes Announcement During Tea Party Rally POSTED: 9:00 am CDT April 14, 2010 UPDATED: 3:34 pm CDT April 15, 2010 Email Print Comments (12)MADISON, Wis. -- Images: Images: Tommy Thompson At Tea Party Rally Former Gov. Tommy Thompson told 12 News reporter Kent Wainscott he will not run for U.S. Senate against Russ Feingold. Slideshow: Thompson Over The Years He said that he wanted to but decided at the last minute not to run, calling it a "family decision." Thompson made his formal announcement during a tea party rally at the state Capitol Thursday afternoon. Thompson's appearance cast...

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin, responded to former Gov. Tommy Thompson’s potential run for Senate Tuesday in an e-mail to supporters. “It’s very likely that former Bush administration HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson will enter the Republican primary to run against me in November,” Feingold said in the message. On March 7, former Thompson aid Bill McCoshen said Thompson has been considering a campaign for the seat. “I wouldn’t expect to see an announcement from him until the Republican convention on May 20th,” McCoshen said on “Up Front with Mike Gousha.” “But you’re going to see additional evidence shortly that this...

Will he or won’t he? This question usually indicates one of two things around these parts: Either it is the NFL offseason or we are approaching an election of some sort. Brett Favre and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson could easily be cousins. Both have been transplanted only to become Wisconsin golden boys. Both have retired, but both have had to consider whether they are happy with that status several times. Both can “still play.” Perhaps most significantly at this point, both are holding their respective organizations in suspense while they ponder their futures. Tommy Thompson has reportedly been considering...

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, who served four terms as Wisconsin governor, is securing financial pledges and ramping up his outreach to longtime political aides in preparation for a possible campaign against Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold. Thompson has alerted his Washington-based law firm of his moves and is contacting key clients about the prospect of challenging Feingold, the most tangible signals yet that he’s seriously exploring a 2010 campaign. “The governor has taken additional steps in the past week and will continue to do so over the next several weeks. If the meetings go well, you can...

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-Wis.) is encouraged by polls showing him leading Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) in a hypothetical matchup. He hasn’t announced a 2010 Senate run but admits he’s spoken to the head of National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and several other senators about the possibility. “It’s a good year for me,” Thompson told The Hill. “The polls are good in Wisconsin and I haven’t even indicated” an intention to run.

One more Democratic senator who has long been regarded as a safe prospect for reelection may be facing a challenging year in 2010. A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in Wisconsin finds Republican Tommy Thompson edging incumbent Russ Feingold 47% to 43% in a hypothetical U.S. Senate match-up. Five percent (5%) like some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided. Any incumbent who attracts less than 50% support at this point in a campaign is considered potentially vulnerable.

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...

Actor Duvall Blasts Palin Critics at Fundraiser October 14, 2008 8:24 AM ABC News' Imtiyaz Delawala Reports: Introducing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at a GOP fundraiser Monday, actor Robert Duvall blasted conservatives who have criticized the McCain-Palin ticket in recent days, calling conservative columnist George Will a "super-nerd" and former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson a "block of wood". At an RNC fundraiser in McLean, VA, Duvall introduced Palin for the third time since her nomination to the Republican ticket, taking the opportunity to accuse Republicans critical of the McCain campaign as giving "credence to the other side." "It bothers me...

(La Crosse, WI company will track health of ground zero workers) Washington - As President Bush's health chief, Tommy Thompson proudly trumpeted millions of taxpayer dollars to help workers sickened by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks at the World Trade Center, even amid complaints that his agency wasn't doing enough. Now, Thompson's private company has won an $11 million contract to treat some of those same workers - the latest twist in a fitful government effort to determine how many people were made ill by the toxic debris and to care for them. The contract awarded by the U.S. Centers...

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani will pick up the endorsement Friday of former GOP rival Tommy Thompson, a one-time Midwestern state governor. "Rudy Giuliani has shown that he is a true leader. He can and will win the nomination and the presidency. He is America's mayor, and during a period of time of great stress for this country he showed tremendous leadership," Thompson, the former Wisconsin governor, said in a statement obtained by the Associated Press. The former New York mayor is to accept the endorsement in South Carolina later Friday. Thompson is the first former 2008 Republican presidential candidate...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani is picking up the endorsement of one-time GOP rival Tommy Thompson, the former Wisconsin governor and Bush Cabinet member. "Rudy Giuliani has shown that he is a true leader," Thompson said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press. "He is America's mayor, and during a period of time of great stress for this country he showed tremendous leadership." The former New York mayor is to accept the endorsement in Charleston, S.C., later Friday. Thompson is the first former 2008 Republican presidential candidate to endorse in the race. He dropped out in...

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson is currently meeting Republican presidential candidates with the purpose of determining who will earn his endorsement. Most of the candidates know Thompson well, as he was one of their number until voters in the Iowa Republican straw poll helped him decide to exit the competition in August. And Thompson should know them well as he spent a year trying to figure out how to beat them. As he considers which Republican to endorse, we hope Thompson will think most about himself, not the other candidates. No, we are not counseling self-absorption on the part of...

When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved implanting microchips in humans, the manufacturer said it would save lives, letting doctors scan the tiny transponders to access patients' medical records almost instantly. The FDA found "reasonable assurance" the device was safe, and a sub-agency even called it one of 2005's top "innovative technologies." But neither the company nor the regulators publicly mentioned this: A series of veterinary and toxicology studies, dating to the mid-1990s, stated that chip implants had "induced" malignant tumors in some lab mice and rats. "The transponders were the cause of the tumors," said Keith Johnson, a...

<p>I saw it again yesterday. This time on NPR.org. And this time, Ken Rudin was answering a reader’s question – What about a Thompson and Thompson ticket?</p> <p>Most Wisconsinites who bother to offer an opinion on the matter say Tommy is a take-charge guy – certainly not the second-in-line type. And certainly not a guy that sits around for four years looking for something to be important about. What columnist Rudin says is “Some people seem destined to be vice president, or lieutenant governor, or work for Avis. Not Tommy Thompson.”</p>

A liberal blogger has filed a federal complaint against former Sen. Fred Thompson, the actor and unannounced Republican candidate for president, accusing him of violating election laws as he ponders his entry into the race. The blogger, Lane Hudson, submitted his complaint to the Federal Election Commission on Monday saying Thompson has raised far more money than he needs to explore whether to run for president.

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson abandoned his long shot bid for the White House late Sunday evening, after he did not meet the expectations he set for himself in the Iowa Republican Party straw poll held one day before. "I want to thank the people of Iowa who were welcoming and supportive as well as my volunteers and contributors from around the country," Thompson said in a statement released by his presidential campaign. "I have no regrets about running. I felt my record as Governor of Wisconsin and Secretary of Health and Human Services gave me the experience I needed...

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson is dropping out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination, a campaign official said Sunday. His campaign has released a statement saying the Republican is leaving the campaign trail several hours after WITI-TV in Milwaukee reported that Thompson told one of its reporters he was withdrawing from the field. The campaign statement said Thompson intends to take sometime off before returning to the private sector and his nonprofit work. The 65-year-old says he's comforted by the fact that he thinks he made a difference for people during his campaign. He finished...

Duncan Hunter: Ninth place is just the start. The California congressman told CNN’s “Late Edition” that he would continue to campaign in Iowa despite a disappointing performance. “This is the first full week I have spent in Iowa in this campaign,” Hunter said. “I got lots of people who signed up for my campaign. … This is the start of my campaign. We are going to get out, work hard. It is a bright morning in Iowa.”

Tommy Thompson's campaign just released the following statement: Thompson Thanks Supporters, Exits Presidential Race Madison - Saying he has 'no regrets', Governor Tommy Thompson thanked his supporters Saturday night and officially left the campaign trail. "I want to thank the people of Iowa who were welcoming and supportive as well as my volunteers and contributors from around the country," said Thompson. "I have no regrets about running. I felt my record as Governor of Wisconsin and Secretary of Health and Human Services gave me the experience I needed to serve as President, but I respect the decision of the...

By the time the writing of this sentence is finished, Tommy Thompson should be out of the presidential race. The 67-year-old former Wisconsin Governor and Bush cabinet member had been unusually honest in playing the expectation game before today’s Iowa Straw Poll. “I've said all along that if I don't come in first or second, I'll drop out of the race,'' he reminded the media earlier this week. Well, the votes are now in and tallied, and Mr. Thompson came in sixth. If this does indeed mean death-by-straw-poll for the Thompson effort, it can be considered a mercy killing. His...

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson's campaign signaled tonight that he would end his presidential bid Sunday, a day after his 6th place finish in the Iowa Republican Party's straw poll. Steve Grubbs, his senior national adviser, said a formal statement would be released Sunday. Still, Grubbs made plain that Thompson would call it quits. "The governor said from the beginning that if he didn't do well in the straw poll that it was unlikely that he would continue," he said. "Without a strong finish, it will be next to impossible to raise the money necessary to keep the campaign going...

AMES, Iowa - Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won an easy and expected victory in a high-profile Iowa Republican Party Straw Poll on Saturday, claiming nearly twice as many votes as his nearest rival.

MILWAUKEE (AP) - A staffer with Tommy Thompson's presidential campaign says the former Wisconsin governor will make an announcement about his future within the next 48 hours. In the weeks prior to today's Republican straw poll in Iowa, Thompson repeatedly said he'd need to finish in the top two to keep his campaign going. Instead he finished 6th, making it likely that he'll drop his White House bid. He finished with about 1,000 votes, or seven percent of the total. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won with almost 4,500 votes, or about 32%. Thompson campaign spokesman Brian Dumas (DOO'-mas) says...

Republican presidential candidates transformed the campus of Iowa State University into a conservative carnival Saturday, competing for votes by offering free soda and barbecue and a promise of shade for the thousands who braved the 100-degree heat to attend this year's straw poll. The activists came by the busload, more than 30,000 in all, for the first voting of the 2008 presidential campaign. But for many, casting ballots was an afterthought as they made their way past huge stages with live bands, inflatable bouncy rooms for the kids and fair-style booths touting one conservative cause after another. The Iowa Right...

Former Wisconsin Governor and Secretary of Health and Human Services and Republican Presidential Candidate Tommy G. Thompson will be hosting a special Round Table Discussion on U.S. and International Health Care Policy with former Chairman of the World Medical Association Dr. Anders Milton. The luncheon will begin at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 9th and will be held at the Embassy Club, 40th floor, located at 801 Grand in downtown Des Moines.

If you're a SOTT (Supporter of Tommy Thompson), then this is probably the most important email you have ever received from his campaign. Without your help and support this week, Tommy Thompson's campaign cannot go on. Tommy Thompson has made it clear that if he doesn't finish first or second this week in Ames, Iowa at the straw poll, he will not go on in this race. To date he has outworked every other candidate running for president in Iowa. His ideas on ending the war in Iraq, fixing America's ailing health care system and finding a cure for cancer...

The only "Simpsons" series character whose name was changed for the movie was Austrian-born action star Rainer Wolfcastle, who goes by the name of President Schwarzenegger. This is satire, I think. There are nine Republican contenders for president and many more in the party looking for a rock-star candidate. Is it Rudy Giuliani, a.k.a. the Mayor of Terror Town? Mitt Romney, who bears a spooky resemblance to CBS CEO Leslie Moonves? Tom Tancredo or Tommy Thompson, both of whose names would restore alliteration to the White House for the first time since the Reagan era? I woke up early Sunday...

Republican Presidential Candidate Debate #4 – Des Moines, Iowa 08/05/07 - Official Discussion Thread ABC News will be conducting a debate to be aired on This Week. The nine announced GOP presidential candidates meet in a campaign debate at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. George Stephanopoulos is the moderator; Des Moines Register political writer David Yepsen poses additional questions. Debate starts at 8 am CT (9 am ET/ 6 am PT) * check local stations for broadcast time in your area * Candidates participating Sam Brownback Rudy Giuliani Mike Huckabee Duncan Hunter John McCain Mitt Romney Ron Paul Tom...

Thompson served in President Bush’s cabinet as Health and Human Services secretary from 2001-2005. He says that experience impressed upon him the need for good people around the president. That lesson guides his views on who he would like around him in the White House.

Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com) -- It's Ames or bust for former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson. The former Bush administration official, who opposes abortion but backs embryonic stem cell research funding, says that a poor showing in the August straw poll could cause him to drop out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination.‘‘It’s the ballgame for me,’’ Thompson said at a weekend meeting with the Johnson County Republican Party. "I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think I could win." Thompson said that if he doesn't place first or second in the Ames vote, which polls make it...

Tommy Thompson's campaign announced today it is willing to participate in the CNN/YouTube debate. “We'll answer questions from any American who wants to ask one and that includes one dressed up like a snowman. Mayor Giuliani and Senator McCain seem more interested in finding reasons to pass up opportunities to address Americans than finding opportunities to engage in debate,” said Steve Grubbs, Senior National Advisor for the Thompson Presidential campaign. McCain and Giuliani have expressed reservations about participating in a YouTube debate due to the questions and questioners allowed to participate. “Governor Thompson will visit his 99th county in Iowa...

Thompson wins big in Iowa straw pollCrawford County GOP: County Fair Presidential Straw Poll Results7/27/2007Crawford County Republicans held a Totally Unscientific/Just for Fun GOP 2008 Presidential Straw Poll at their Crawford County Republican Fair Booth July 19-22, 2007. Ten names were listed on the ballot, including one yet undeclared GOP presidential candidate. Results over the four days were as follows:34 Tommy Thompson, Wisconsin25 Mitt Romney, Massachusetts17 Fred Thompson, Tennessee15 Rudy Giuliani, New York10 Tom Tancredo, Colorado9 John McCain, Arizona3 Sam Brownback, Kansas1 John Cox, Illinois1 Mike Huckabee, Arkansas0 Duncan Hunter, CaliforniaThe Official Republican Party of Iowa Straw Poll will be...

Iowa Christian Alliance, formerly known as Christian Coalition of Iowa, is pleased to host 2008 Presidential candidate, Hon. Tommy Thompson, at its Clive house party on Tuesday, July 31 from 5:30-7:30 P.M. The event, which will take place at the home of hosts Jeff and Melissa Jochims, will provide Des Moines area activists an opportunity to meet Hon. Thompson and become familiar with his policy positions. “We are thrilled that Hon. Thompson has accepted our invitation to introduce himself to ICA supporters and let us know where he stands on the issues that face our nation,” stated Steve Scheffler, ICA’s...

Duncan Hunter decided, months after other campaigns started making pushes in Iowa, that he should do the same. From a press release we received today: Get Ready Iowans…Here Comes Duncan(Des Moines, Iowa)…Duncan Hunter’s Presidential campaign has officially begun in Iowa with the announcement of a statewide director during his campaign swing through in Iowa this weekend (July 21-23) with a myriad of personal appearances at the state’s various county fairs. He will also be hosting a personal “Donuts with Duncan� early morning gathering in Sioux City, and then will be attending the services at two of the city’s churches.Patrick R....

The Iowa straw poll is just a little more than three weeks away. And, republican Tommy Thompson says it's a "make or break" for his campaign. During a campaign tour through Siouxland, Thursday, the former Wisconsin governor says his performance in the straw poll will determine whether he stays in the race for the White House. By August 11th, Thompson promises to visit all 99 counties in the Hawkeye State, by an ethanol-fueled Winnebago. He's got 27 left to go. Thompson believes his "common sense tour," has helped him inch closer to the top candidates, but he says the straw...

Monday, July 16, 2007 Thompson responds to Moore in press release Thompson Responds to Sicko's Michael Moore Hampton, Iowa – Tuesday night on Larry King Live, Michael Moore attacked Dr. Sanjay Gupta's statistics saying they were tainted because they came from Dr. Paul Keckley, a medical statistics researcher who is the executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. Moore also said they were tainted because former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson is the independent chairman for the center. "Paul Keckley is one of the most forthright and capable researchers in America today. His background is...

Today, Tommy Thompson's Presidential campaign began airing a new sixty second radio ad focused on Governor Thompson's plan for real immigration reform. In the advertisement, Governor Thompson outlines his common sense plan to address immigration. First, Governor Thompson opposes any legislation that creates amnesty for illegal aliens. "We must support the rule of law in our country. People who are found to be in the country illegally should be returned to their home countries and should have to wait at the end of the line, behind people who are seeking to enter the country or become citizens legally," said Thompson....

Hi everyone! Hope you all had an enjoyable Fourth of July. If you are in the area, please join Tommy Thompson at one of these events open to the public. Invite your friends and families to come meet Gov. Thompson and learn about the campaign. 7/7/07 8:30 AM Coffee & Rolls with Tommy Thompson 2nd St. Emporium 615 - 2nd St. Webster City, Iowa 7/7/07 10:00 AM Coffee & Rolls with Tommy Thompson Webster Co. GOP Headquarters 900 Central Ave. Fort Dodge, Iowa 7/7/07 12:00 PM Presidential Party at the Pizza Ranch Pizza Ranch 211 N. Main St. Pocahontas,...

Tommy Thompson Wins Linn County Straw Poll Former Wisconsin Governor and Republican presidential candidate, Tommy Thompson won the Linn County Straw Poll held today at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. Governor Tommy Thompson won with 33% of the vote. All Republican presidential candidates were included in the straw poll. [NOTE: This includes the unannonced candidate Fred Thompson, who received 2.7% of vote amoung Linn County Republicans] "Linn County is Iowa's second largest county and is traditionally a bellwether county. Today's victory reflects the strong grassroots campaign that Governor Thompson is building in Iowa," said Chad Olsen, Iowa campaign...

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials invited all Republican presidential hopefuls to its annual convention at Disney World in Buena Vista, Fla. Only one showed up — Rep. Duncan Hunter, of California. A grateful audience gave Hunter a standing ovation Friday and some convention goers posed for snapshots with the congressman after his question and answer session. Standing at the lone candidate podium which was decorated in red, white and blue, Hunter was asked about his plan to fix the nation’s immigration system. “We need to build the fence and build it quickly,” he said. An 854-foot...

GOP presidential hopeful Ron Paul has been excluded from an upcoming political forum in Iowa on the grounds that he is not a "credible” candidate. The event, sponsored by Iowans for Tax Relief and the Iowa Christian Alliance, is set for June 30 in Des Moines. GOP candidates who will speak at the forum include Mitt Romney, Sam Brownback, Duncan Hunter, Mike Huckabee, Tommy Thompson and Tom Tancredo. But Paul, a Texas congressman, was left out because the invitation went only to those candidates who are "credible,” said Ed Failor Jr., vice president of Iowans for Tax Relief. "To plan...

Thompson: Iraqi Violence Increasing, My Plan Must Be Implemented QuicklyCalls on Romney to get off the fence and support the Thompson plan.(Washington, D.C.) – Saying the bombings this week of the Shiite shrine and the three Sunni Mosques is evidence that a military solution is not in sight, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson called on the Bush Administration and Iraqi leaders to move aggressively to divide the country into eighteen regional governments with democratically-elected leaders and autonomous decision making. “The sectarian violence in Iraq is threatening to completely destabilize the country. It's becoming increasingly clear that a military solution is...