NRCC MEMO: WISCONSIN PRIMARY RESULTS
| TO: INTERESTED PARTIES FROM: NRCC POLITICAL AND NRCC COMMUNICATIONS DATE: SEPTEMBER 14, 2010 SUBJECT: WISCONSIN PRIMARY RESULTS Two years ago, President Obama kicked off the final leg of his 2008 campaign at a union rally in Milwaukee. In a sign that the political winds have shifted significantly since that historic campaign, Obama returned to Milwaukee two weeks ago to find some of the state’s most loyal Democratic officeholders unwilling to appear with the increasingly unpopular President. With the political environment growing increasingly toxic for Democrats as a result of their failed economic agenda, and boosted by one of the best crop of candidates in decades, Republicans are in a strong position to win as many as three Democrat-held seats in the Badger State. Open Seats: WI-07 (Rep. Dave Obey, D) The person who scared Obey out of the race is former prosecutor and world champion lumberjack sports competitor Sean Duffy. He jumped into the race after Congress passed Obey’s trillion dollar “stimulus” boondoggle that has failed to create anything but a massive pile of debt that will be paid off by future generations. Despite a political shakeup that resulted in a different opponent, Duffy’s message of fiscal responsibility and the need for policies that encourage job-creation has stayed constant as he continues to gain ground throughout the Northwoods. After Obey’s retirement, Democrats met in conclave to choose a successor, settling on a career politician from Stevens Point: state Sen. Julie Lassa. In the legislature, Lassa has supported fiscally irresponsible budgets, massive tax hikes and a Canada-style government takeover of healthcare; all of which makes her record virtually indistinguishable from that of many Washington Democrats. Further compounding problems for Lassa is her failure to protect Wisconsin jobs. As chair of the Senate’s economic development committee, it was her responsibility to create jobs and grow the economy at a time when the state lost over 164,000 jobs. Given Duffy’s ability to scare Obey out of the race and Lassa’s record of supporting the same sort of unpopular policies that are causing problems for Democrats across the country, Duffy is in a very strong position to win this November. Geography: Wisconsin’s Seventh Congressional District’s history is rooted in the timber industry and is made up of the state’s Northwoods. Its major cities are Wausau, Chippewa Falls, Stevens Point and Superior. History: Obey’s 40 year hold on the district misleads many into believing that this district is a fortress for the Democratic Party. While Barack Obama carried his district with 56% of the vote in 2008, George W. Bush only lost this district to John Kerry by 5,000 votes in 2004. Challengers: WI-03 (Rep. Ron Kind, D) Like most loyal House Democrats, Ron Kind finds himself in a more-difficult-than-usual race for re-election. Kind’s problems stem from the fact that he has voted for the failed stimulus package, the job-killing National Energy Tax, and the Medicare-cutting government takeover of healthcare. Taking on Kind this fall is state Sen. Dan Kapanke of La Crosse. Aside from serving as a check to Gov. Jim Doyle’s reckless agenda, Kapanke is the co-owner of the La Crosse Loggers minor league baseball team. As someone who spent 25 years in the agri-business industry, Kapanke understands how the Kind-backed cap-and-trade energy tax would take money out of the pockets of farmers all across Wisconsin. With the political mood in Wisconsin souring for Democrats, it would be a grave mistake for Kind to assume that he is a safe bet for re-election. Geography: Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District‘s sits in the southwestern corner of the state with its western border defined by the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers and includes the cities of Eau Claire and La Crosse. History: In 2008, Barack Obama carried the district with 58% of the vote while John Kerry won here with 51% of the vote in 2004. WI-08 (Rep. Steve Kagen, D) Times have changed significantly since Steve Kagen first won this seat in 2006 as voters by and large are rejecting the Democrats reckless, job-killing agenda. For Kagen, who has proudly rubber-stamped the Pelosi-Obama policies, this presents a problem of career-ending magnitude. Aside from the worsening political environment and Kagen’s record of supporting unpopular legislation that isn’t improving the economy but rather adding to our country’s mounting debt, there is an historical trend that should keep Kagen and his liberal allies awake at night: no Democrat has ever held this seat for more than two terms. Challenging Kagen this November is political outsider and roofing contractor Reid Ribble. As someone who knows what it takes to create jobs, Ribble understands that Washington Democrats like Kagen are taking this country in the wrong direction. Ribble’s message of turning our economy around stands in stark contrast to Kagen’s recent statements to the media that he believes that our economy is on the right track. It’s that sort of difference that that has given Ribble a 10 point lead over the Democratic incumbent in recent polling. With Kagen defending the status quo and Ribble promising to stand up to the unpopular Obama agenda, it’s clear that the loyal Democratic incumbent has his work cut out for him this November. Geography: Wisconsin’s Eighth Congressional District occupies the northeastern corner of the state and borders Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Lake Michigan. Its major cities include Green Bay and Appleton. History: George W. Bush carried this district with 55% of the vote in 2008 while Barack Obama won it with 53.6% in 2008. Incumbents: At present, no Republican incumbent is at risk of losing in November. Statewide Roundup: The following are the unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary election in Wisconsin. These results are UNOFFICIAL AND INCOMPLETE until certified by the state’s Government Accountability Board. DISTRICT NAME RAW VOTE %__
*Denotes Winner WI-03 (R) WI-07 (R) WI-07 (D) WI-08 (R)
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