Posted on 09/16/2004 8:44:02 AM PDT by Kryptonite
Michels' margin of victory brings national GOP backing
Nominee already trading barbs with Feingold
National Republican leaders were making tentative promises Wednesday to provide Tim Michels with new resources and support, a day after the construction executive and former Army officer from Oconomowoc captured the party's U.S. Senate nomination by storm.
Michels' primary victory sets up a November showdown of crystal-clear contrast with two-term Democratic incumbent Sen. Russ Feingold.
"This is a race of national significance. That's why I'm here today," said Ed Gillespie, chairman of the Republican National Committee, standing beside Michels and two of his fallen challengers at a unity event Wednesday morning at Serb Hall.
"We will commit resources to Wisconsin," Gillespie said. "It's an important race. Russ Feingold is eminently beatable."
U.S. Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), head of the committee charged with electing Republicans to the Senate and maintaining the party's slim 51-49 advantage in that chamber, seconded that emotion. Mostly.
"Ranger Tim leads our charge," Allen said in a phone interview, referring to Michels' Airborne Ranger training and 12 years in the Army.
Allen said the National Republican Senatorial Committee on election night had given Michels a $35,000 check, the maximum allowed . . .
Darrow and Welch appeared at Wednesday's event, pledging their support for Michels. Lorge contacted the winner by phone to offer his congratulations.
. . .
Meanwhile Wednesday, Feingold had tough words for Michels and showed particular pique about the way the Republican has characterized Feingold's vote, the only "nay" that day, on the USA Patriot Act.
. . .
"Russ Feingold has been in Washington, D.C., for 12 years now, and I think he's failed on the issues that are so important to the people of Wisconsin," Michels said.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
That's wonderful news. I've been worried about how much money Feingold's spending and wondering how Michels was going to counter it.
I agree that Feingold is extremely beatable.
It should help Bush in the state, too.
Thanks for reminding me! I need to find out where to get a Michels' sign. Grothman is out in my front yard. Michels needs to join him.
Wisconsin Freeper Ping!
Adding Buttaboom . . . if anybody wants off this list, please advise.
I believe Bush will win Wisconsin this time around, by a small but decent margin, so Michels' goal for now should be to reduce ticket splitting...as in, make sure people voting for Bush start switching over to himself further down the ticket, since I've always believed Feingold would run ahead of Bush, even if not by much. A few more stops by W in the Badger State couldn't hurt either.
Defeating Feingold should be third priority for conservatives, right behind defeating Kerry and Daschle. If only we could be rid of McCain as well. I'll settle for eliminating one half of the CFR team.
Michels For Senate
Phone: (262) 522-3792
Fax: (262) 522-3796
Email: info@michelsforsenate.com
W226 N665 Eastmound Drive
Suite 130
Waukesha, WI 53186
Add to ping list, please.
Wisconsin likes to split tickets, so a Bush/Feingold result on Election Day would not surprise me. Feingold is doing the same thing he did when he first won his Senate seat. He let the candidates bash each other, and now he's stepping in with a cute (and good) ad on his fiscal responsiblity. He's played his cards right so far in this campaign, and it's up to Michels to come up with a successful challenge.
Will do!
I thought you were already on the list? I'll re-check.
Michels is out of yard signs right now, but contact their HQ and get on the list. I'm getting bumper stickers mailed to me. (and wasn't that a sweet victory for Grothman...)
The yard signs can be delivered next week.
I just sent off a check to Tim.
I remember that in 1992 Feingold ran cutesy ads while the other two candidates (I think Jim Moody was one of them) slung mud at each other.
But people aren't going to be fooled this time. IMO, voters are angry at Feingold because of his support for partial-birth abortion and his vote against the Patriot Act. Michels has got to point out that Feingold's a hypocrite for voting against the Patriot Act but co-sponsoring campaign-finance reform, which really killed the Constitution.
Can you add me to your Wisconsin ping list? Thanks.
I just spoke with them. Am now on the list. Plus, they will be at the Harvest Fest Saturday. I am also picking up my Bush/Cheney '04 sign in Grafton then! Whew!
IMO I think Feingold is extremely vulnerable, but Michels has got to stay on the high road and calmly dissect Feingold's record with facts because Feingold is a very savvy and dangerous Democrat. This is a guy who uses humor in his ads. Very rare for a politician to do so.
How about an ad that says: "There's nothing funny about putting terrorists' 'rights' over our families' safety, Senator! There's nothing funny about slaughtering children with partial birth abortion, Senator! There's nothing funny about refusing to let the Senate do its Constitutionally mandated business of voting on judicial nominations, Senator! The joke is on Wisconsin! You are the joke, Senator."
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