July 12, 2012

"With the help of a three-month, multi-million-dollar ad blitz, first-time candidate and wealthy businessman Eric Hovde..."

"... has reshuffled the Republican race for US Senate and emerged as a legitimate threat to the best-known figure in the field, former governor Tommy Thompson, two new polls suggest."

Where's the tipping point? The received wisdom is Tommy said he wants it and therefore it's Tommy's. But look at these new polls. I think there is potential for a sudden shift toward Hovde if people overcome the presumption that the nomination belongs to Tommy.

Understand: Hovde is one of the conservative alternatives to Thompson, and serious conservatives find Thompson insufficiently conservative, but of course they want to win the Senate seat in the end. So there's some risk-taking in jumping from Tommy to one of the conservatives. There are 2 other conservatives in the race — former congressman Mark Neumann and Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald — and both of them were much more well-known than Hovde, though much less well-known than Tommy Thompson. Hovde has now leveraged himself to the top of the conservative triad, which means that those who want someone from the conservative triad now know, with these 2 new polls, that they must coalesce around Hovde, or yield to the massive force that is Thompson.

61 comments:

leslyn said...

Bill Gates has donated $125 million to help people.

Doesn't he know how much ad time that could buy?

Mike Chuck said...

There is almost no way the Republican party doesn't take the senate back. The only question is how many seats can they take. So if you're not worried about control of the senate maybe you should worry more about the small government credentials of your candidate instead of the party of your candidate.

Calypso Facto said...

I agree Hovde is a riskier candidate the Thompson, but with the Dems running the un-electable Baldwin, why not go with the true conservative?

edutcher said...

You get the feeling the people really understand how much trouble we're in and see through all the Lefty propaganda.

Translation:

Peasants with pitchforks.

For real.

Original Mike said...

Go, Eric!

garage mahal said...

Hovde is the candidate running as the anti-bailout Washington D.C. outsider, who has lived in Washington D.C. the past 24 years, who invested in dozens of banks that received bailouts. Will that matter to Republicans? Of course not.

TosaGuy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
leslyn said...

TosaGuy,

Get a sense of humor. Have another drink.

Curious George said...

I've donated to Hovde, have a yard sign, and will be doing some volunteer work. He's going to be the next Junior Senator from Wisconsin.

TosaGuy said...

Since Leslyn is all concerned about how other people spend their money, here is all the money that went to Baldwin instead of charity.

Richard Dolan said...

"There is almost no way the Republican party doesn't take the senate back."

If the folks running the Rep campaigns think like that, then I suspect they've found just the way to keep Sen. Reid as majority leader.

TosaGuy said...

working linky here

TosaGuy said...

"Get a sense of humor. Have another drink."

I think you have had quite enough already.

Rusty said...

leslyn said...
Bill Gates has donated $125 million to help people.

Doesn't he know how much ad time that could buy?


Probably, but by eliminating the middle man he could help more people and give the taxpayers a break.However I'm sure some progg will whine about the 1% getting away with something.

Patrick said...

"Have another drink" is almost always good advice.

Usually not this early, though.

Scott said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
TosaGuy said...

I arrived in WI in 1996, which was after TT the reformer. I was here for TT the spender.

TT made much of the mess that Scott Walker had to fix.

I also think that TT won't work hard enough to beat Baldwin, who will be an effective campaigner.

Christopher in MA said...

Will that matter to Republicans? Of course not

Comedy gold coming from a diehard fellator of President Goldman Sachs.

Chip S. said...

There is almost no way the Republican party doesn't take the senate back.

Are you kidding? I learned here yesterday that if a party doesn't have at least 60 Senate seats it can't do shit. No way the Republicans win enough seats to gain "control".

I have garage mahal's authority on that.

test said...

"Bill Gates has donated $125 million to help people."

As long as we define help as "busywork jobs for college educated leftists".

leslyn said...

You really don't like charitable liberals, do you, Marshal?

Curious George said...

"garage mahal said...
Hovde is the candidate running as the anti-bailout Washington D.C. outsider, who has lived in Washington D.C. the past 24 years, who invested in dozens of banks that received bailouts. Will that matter to Republicans? Of course not." Yawn. Hovde is on the record opposing bank bailouts when they were happening. His company invested in banks that received TARP well after the fact. So not sure your point. YAWN.

It's gonna be a tough few months for you garage.

Calypso Facto said...

Does your appreciation for the charitable extend to Republicans too, Leslyn?

Mr. Hovde, along with his brother, Steven, created and funded the Hovde Foundation, an organization that actively supports two central missions – clinical research in search of a cure for Multiple Sclerosis and charitable relief in devastated areas around the world.

Mr. Hovde has actively participated in and funded relief programs in Africa, South America, Latin America and the United States. Further, he has financed and oversees the construction & operation of Hovde Houses, which are homes that provide shelter, supportive services, education and love to vulnerable street children. The Hovde Foundation has established Hovde Houses in Mexico City; Huanuco, Peru; Winneba, Ghana; Kigali, Rwanda; and Mombasa, Kenya. Mr. Hovde has also funded a homeless shelter for children and their parents complete with case work managers and job training, in his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin.

Col Mustard said...

You really don't like charitable liberals, do you, Marshal?

Liberals give less of what they have to charity than do conservatives. You can look it up.

Favoring government spending on the needy is not charity - it's spending other people's money.

Sydney said...

I don't live in Wisconsin, but I sure hope Hovde becomes your senator. Tommy Thompson was the mastermind behind a lot of the electronic medical record bullshit that has been foisted on American physicians by the 2009 HiTech Act. All of his ideas were taken by the Democrats and turned into sticks to beat us into submission. Result: We have electronic medical records that are designed to help third party payers mine data. They are not designed to help us do our job more efficiently or to better serve our patients. In fact, just the opposite. They slow productivity and distract from patient care. Vote Hovde, Wisconsin!

TosaGuy said...

"Does your appreciation for the charitable extend to Republicans too, Leslyn?"

This is when liberals switch their talking point to how rich people who donate to charity do it as one of the following:

a) assuage their guilt for their rapacious capitalistic behavoir

b) enhance their power by directing where resources go....such power leads them to often choose poorly. It would be better if such money was taxed and distributed by a wise and benovolent government.

c) pure marketing ploy to gloss over evils they must have committed to steal such wealth.

machine said...

The TEA Party pushing the Washington lobbyist as the outsider...perfect! And a banker no less!! Hahahahahaha

Par for the "conservative" republican course I suppose...

At least as a banker, he may not actively work to sabotage the US economy for purely partisan political gain...until the party faithful get a hold of him....

campy said...

Are you kidding? I learned here yesterday that if a party doesn't have at least 60 Senate seats it can't do shit.

That rule only applies to Democrats. Republicans have full control with 51.

Paco Wové said...

"Republicans have full control with 51."

Heck, Republicans are apparently responsible for the Senate if they have 41.

James said...

Jeff Fitzgerald is clearly the best conservative candidate in the field but unfortunately he is not as well financed as the others.

Christopher in MA said...

At least as a Democrat, he may not actively work to sabotage the US war effort for purely partisan political gain. . .until Code Pink get a hold of him. . .

FIFY, clown. And it makes just as much sense as your rambling stream of idiocy.

test said...

"You really don't like charitable liberals, do you, Marshal?"

What's not to love about self-righteous political activists who accomplish virtually none of their stated goals while lobbying government to take your money and restrict your freedom?

It's the NGO system generally, but since it's controlled by leftists I suppose that's close enough.

machine said...

War liars, torturers, and sabotagers...how proud you are...

Rusty said...

machine said...
War liars, torturers, and sabotagers...how proud you are.


You're smart enough to know you're stupid, right?

edutcher said...

The mindless automaton falls back on mindless talking points and then mindless name-calling when his mind fails.

And then falls back on mindless laughter because he thinks everyone will think he has won the debate

Original Mike said...

You're smart enough to know you're stupid, right?"

I wouldn't bet on it. The word he's looking for is saboteurs.

MadisonMan said...

Jeff Fitzgerald is clearly the best conservative candidate

A conservative candidate who is a career politician.

I've seen enough career politicians, TYVM.

leslyn said...

Jeff Fitzgerald!!

Oh man. Now you're giving me nightmares again.

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

Sounds like MadMan will be backing Hovde if it comes down to Hovde vs Baldy.

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

Maybe we should call him Madison's own Eric Hovde! Or maybe Madison's favorite son Eric Hovde!

leslyn said...

Latest peeve: People who snark at me for things I never said, or even intended to say:

Original comment: Bill Gates has donated $125 million to help people. Doesn't he know how much ad time that could buy?,

Now is it really that hard to understand that I am making an ironic statement about ad spending, which was the subject of this post?

Col Mustard:

"Favoring government spending on the needy is not charity - it's spending other people's money."

??

TosaGuy:

"Does your appreciation for the charitable extend to Republicans too, Leslyn?"

"This is when liberals switch their talking point to how rich people who donate to charity do it as one of the following:

"a) assuage their guilt for their rapacious capitalistic behavoir

"b) enhance their power by directing where resources go....such power leads them to often choose poorly. It would be better if such money was taxed and distributed by a wise and benovolent government.

"c) pure marketing ploy to gloss over evils they must have committed to steal such wealth."

I don't even have a clue what galaxy that came from.

If you have a rant, guys, come up with it on your own--don't blame me.

(Ha ha--the captcha on this is "redvote.")

Rusty said...

Now is it really that hard to understand that I am making an ironic statement about ad spending, which was the subject of this post?


Oh, I understand. I just didn't want to miss an opportunity to be an asshole.

Curious George said...

"MadisonMan said...

A conservative candidate who is a career politician.

I've seen enough career politicians, TYVM."

Jeff Fitzgerald is not a career politician:

"Prior to entering public service, Fitzgerald owned and operated two small businesses and spent eight years working at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange."

MadisonMan said...

I'd take Hovde over Baldwin. Even though he went to East, not West.

MadisonMan said...

Prior to entering public service

And since then?

Suckling very ably at the public teat.

TosaGuy said...

"Latest peeve: People who snark at me for things I never said, or even intended to say:"

Welcome to the internet.

There are some very smart, interesting, thoughtful and humorous liberals who comment on this blog. Observe them and learn so that you can develop at least one of those characteristics.

Anonymous said...

Leslyn, Tosa Guy is crabby because he's stuck living in Wauwatosa, can ya blame him? Milwaukee County, he must be so unhappy.

garage mahal said...

Eric Hovde: The last and only honest man on Wall Street!

Wisconsin is very gullible, I'm sure they'll eat it right up. They'll be seeing his millions in ads round the clock soon.

"Look Ethel at this nice looking young man on TV. He wants to clean up Wall Street. He's just like me and you".

MadisonMan said...

Curious George, I will agree that Fitzgerald is not a Career Politician like Scott Walker is.

Christopher in MA said...

Wisconsin is very gullible.

And they obviously have a high tolerance for the mentally disabled, considering your continued presence there.

TosaGuy said...

"Leslyn, Tosa Guy is crabby because he's stuck living in Wauwatosa, can ya blame him? Milwaukee County, he must be so unhappy."

Life is good between 60th and 124th streets.

Curious George said...

"MadisonMan said...
Curious George, I will agree that Fitzgerald is not a Career Politician like Scott Walker is." I really don't have a problem with either. Fitzgerald would be fine, I just like Hovde better because I think we need someone who will kick some ass.

By the way, I think there is a very big difference between someone who makes a career in state politics versus national. State politicians live in their local homes and are less prone to "going native" on the largesse of Washington. Less power. They effect only WI, or in Walker's previous job, Milwaukee County. A US Congressperson or Senator can effect 300 million people.

Original Mike said...

"Wisconsin is very gullible"

Speaking of gullible, I see the deer report is out. When do they implement Walker's privitization plan you and R/V were warning about?

Curious George said...

"TosaGuy said...

Life is good between 60th and 124th streets."

Could use some rain at 70th & Lloyd.

Anonymous said...

Tosa Guy, I actually do like Wauwatosa, it's a lovely community with big mature trees, lovely historical homes, and yes you are right, certain areas are more desirable.

leslyn said...

There are some very smart, interesting, thoughtful and humorous liberals who comment on this blog. Observe them and learn so that you can develop at least one of those characteristics.

Oh, OW.

garage mahal said...

When do they implement Walker's privitization plan you and R/V were warning about?

I do recall asking why Walker would hire a deer czar from Texas they hates public gaming lands. Did you read the deer report? He did appear to scold hunters for too much reliance on government for herd control, and warned that not embracing his proposals would result in....the end of deer hunting I guess. So he accomplished what he was hired to in all probability.

garage mahal said...

Liberal loon Tom Tiffany:

Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Hazelhurst Republican, is calling today for the replacement of officials in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ big game management unit.

“It is time for a shake-up of the big game management unit at the DNR,” Tiffany said in a Wednesday press release. “Whatever their agenda, it is failing sportsmen and women and the many businesses that depend on our proud deer hunting tradition in the Northwoods.”

Rusty said...

By the DNRs own admission, Garage, they have dropped the ball for the last couple of decades on deer management.
One thing that Illinois, ironically,does rather well. Deer management.

Original Mike said...

"By the DNRs own admission, ..."

Walker made 'em say it.
They didn't wanna say it,
Walker made 'em say it.

Rusty said...

garage mahal said...
When do they implement Walker's privitization plan you and R/V were warning about?

I do recall asking why Walker would hire a deer czar from Texas they hates public gaming lands. Did you read the deer report? He did appear to scold hunters for too much reliance on government for herd control, and warned that not embracing his proposals would result in....the end of deer hunting I guess. So he accomplished what he was hired to in all probability.

Why don't you read the report and then comment.