WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1999 - RACE FOR REPUBLICAN NOMINATION HEATS UP: GOVERNOR THOMPSON IS IN!
Governor Thompson addresses a crowd of enthusiastic supporters
06.23.99 MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - "2000 is the year the Republicans retake the White House!" announced Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) as he introduced the governor, acting as a surrogate for the Thompson campaign. With Bush's choice not to enter the race leaving the Republican nomination wide open, Tommy Thompson, 4-term governor of Wisconsin, has thrown his hat into the ring.
Thompson is a force to be reckoned with in Wisconsin politics (just recently trouncing Ed Garvery for his 4th term,
59 - 39). Enjoying enthusiastic support from Republicans and Independents, he has won all of his terms by large margins and scored many legislative victories. Never hesitating to work with the other side of the isle, Thompson recently passed BadgerCade to expand medical coverage to the citizens of Wisconsin. It is likely that if at the top of the ticket, Thompson could move Wisconsin back in the Republican column after supporting Dukakis and Clinton both times.
Present in a lower income neighborhood, a target for BadgerCade, Thompson called for
" a government that works for the people. One that does not try to pass overreaching government healthcare like the Clinton administration, but one that works at the state and local level to create solutions that work! We must and we will create a smaller and more trustworthy government!"Poll: ABC News
1,500 Respondents. Registered Republicans only
Who do you support for the Republican nomination?
Governor Tommy Thompson (R-WI) - 31%
Governor George Allen (R-VA) - 18%
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) - 13%
Steve Forbes (R-NY) - 8%
Undecided/New Candidate - 30%