WI: Former Gov. Tommy Thompson Wins GOP Senate Primary

[Frodo]

Tommy Thompson wins Wisconsin’s Republican Senate primary

By Sean Sullivan and Aaron Blake, Published: August 14 | Updated: Wednesday, August 15, 12:38 AM

Former governor Tommy Thompson won the Republican Senate primary in Wisconsin on Tuesday, defeating businessman Eric Hovde, who spent millions of his own money on the campaign. Thompson will face Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin in the general election.

Thompson’s win was a victory for the Republican establishment, which has taken a beating in several Senate races this cycle, with conservative underdogs scoring upsets in Texas, Missouri and Indiana. Thompson’s long record of general-election success strengthens Republicans’ chances of taking over the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl.

Thompson, who served four terms as governor and later was health and human services secretary under President George W. Bush, withstood an intensely negative campaign against him. The anti-tax Club for Growth and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) backed former congressman Mark Neumann, who appeared headed for a third-place finish.

[MilesC56]

I was most surprised at Neumann's poor finish. I think Thompson should pick the seat up for Republicans though.

[You kip if you want to...]

So close

[RogueBeaver]

Two things did it: Neumann's relentless smear campaign and Ryan's TT endorsement.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79732.html

[Meeker]

Thompson was the least nutty of the GOP candidates last night, so I guess that's good news for them. But the man's 2008 Presidential campaign was a disaster (google "Tommy Thompson jewish comments" and "Tommy Thompson gay worker bathroom" for a refresher) and he's pretty clearly past his prime. For a four-term Governor to only get about 1/3 of the vote in his own party's primary is not a sign of strength.

Should be a fun race.

[RogueBeaver]

Sabato now rates this one Lean R.

[AmericanNation]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/wisconsin-republican-senate-august-primary-results-1k6faco-166183546.html

Map:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/164929496.html

Thompson will lead by 6-to-10 points starting 5 minutes ago. 

[Former Moderate]

I've heard what an amazing Senate candidate Tommy Thompson would make pretty much since I started seriously following politics 15 years ago. It will be so amusing if he loses a friggin' open seat race.

[RodPresident]

Tommy Thompson is to 2012 cycle like Tommy Thompson in 1986. A elder statesman that jumped to a not so difficult Senate race, after refused many times before.

[Proud Lieberal from Northeast]

Thompson is 71 years old.

Pretty funny for a dude aspiring to be a freshman Senator.

[Jayhawker]

Ever since I've been involved in politics, Tommy Thompson's name has always been floated as a possible Senatorial candidate, and every time, he ended up deciding against it. It's nice to see him finally run, and I fully expect him to win in November.

[Svensson]

Thompson is 71 years old.

Pretty funny for a dude aspiring to be a freshman Senator.

A freshman with a 57-year-old as his senior, at that.

[Supersonic]

If Thompson wins in November, it'll be the first time that Wisconsin has been represented by two Republican Senators since 1956. Interesting fact there, lol.

[Mr. Morden]

Anyone have a map of the primary results by county?  Politico has a map, but no colors.  You have to hover the cursor over the county to see anything.

[RogueBeaver]

From the MJS.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/164929496.html

[Zioneer]

So if he wins, he's only going to be serving for a term or two, right? He's 70 already, and I don't see him serving until he dies.

[Meeker]

From the MJS.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/164929496.html

Interesting. Given that Hovde isn't from Green Bay, I suspect his strength there has something to do with the media market. Anyone else have a theory?

[Landslide Lyndon]

I'll be surprised if he wins. He seems too old and crotchety and without the fire in the belly. Baldwin should easily outcampaign him.

[AmericanNation]

From the MJS.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/164929496.html

Interesting. Given that Hovde isn't from Green Bay, I suspect his strength there has something to do with the media market. Anyone else have a theory?

Yea, Hovde probably had a huge ad buy in that Fox Valley (Green Bay-Appleton) market compared to everyone else. 

Neumann is strongest the farther you get away from SE Wisconsin for the second primary in a row.  The First time was because of Walker's popularity, this time is because people still resent how Neumann went negative on Walker. 

Fitzgerald's strength is IN SE Wisconsin because that's the only area he had a decent amount of name recognition / campaign organization. 

Thompson had enough strength / support staked out everywhere to survive the other three, who where dividing the "more conservative than Tommy on the growth of government in the 1990's" vote. 

Interesting Primary in that you had a quality-acceptably conservative candidate and 3 quality-slightly more conservative candidates.  Not a surprise that electability proved to be the most important issue.