Interview with Ron Johnson and Dick Leinenkugel

Charlie Sykes of WTMJ has a good interview of Ron Johnson and Dick Leinenkugel.  They talk about what it will take to defeat Russ Feingold for U.S. Senate.

Follow the link to listen to the interview.

http://media2.620wtmj.com/SykesFullShow/052410_Sykesshow_part1.mp3

Dick Leinenkugel Endorses Ron Johnson at GOP Convention

At the Wisconsin state GOP convention in Milwaukee, Dick Leinenkugel dropped out of the race for the U.S. Senate seat and gave his endorsement to Ron Johnson.  Johnson then won the endorsement of the Republican party and will run against Democrat Russ Feingold in November.

Here is the AP news story:

"Wisconsin Republicans have endorsed Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson in the U.S. Senate race.
Sunday's decision came shortly after a surprise move in which fellow candidate Dick Leinenkugel dropped out and threw his support behind Johnson.
Johnson won with 64 percent of the delegates' votes. Madison-area developer Terrence Wall garnered 18 percent. Another 18 percent voted not to endorse anyone.
The vote came in the second round of voting at the state party's convention in Milwaukee. Watertown businessman Dave Westlake had been dropped from that ballot after he finished third in the first round.
The party endorsement gives Johnson access to money, volunteers, voter and donor lists, and other party resources to bolster his campaign.
Sunday's decision has no effect on the ballot. All three candidates will remain on the Sept. 14 primary."

http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/94694429.html

Leinenkugel Makes the Senate Race Close

Columnist Stuart Rothenberg of CQ-Roll Call feels that the race for Russ Feingold's Senate seat will be a tight race with the addition of Dick Leinenkugel and Ron Johnson campaigning for the GOP nomination.  Here's an excerpt:

"Feingold Return No Sure Thing:  When former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) announced recently that he wouldn’t enter the 2010 Senate race and challenge Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold , many of us crossed the state off our list of competitive races. Maybe we were a bit premature. Two more Republicans — former state Commerce Secretary Dick Leinenkugel and businessman Ron Johnson — are joining the two GOPers already in the contest, businessman Terrence Wall and Dave Westlake, and the newly expanded field is just one reason for reconsidering my knee-jerk judgment. None of these four hopefuls possesses all of the qualities of the ideal challenger. But this cycle, Republicans may not need ideal challengers to win, even in the Badger State."

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003654265 

Johnson Joins Leinenkugel, Wall, and Westlake in Wisconsin GOP Primary

Looks like there is another candidate running for the Republican nomination for the Senate. A new press release says, "Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson has decided to run for the U.S. Senate. His campaign says Johnson announced his bid on Monday, in a move that’s been expected for weeks."

Further, the press release says, "Johnson will compete against Terrence Wall, Dave Westlake, and former state Commerce Secretary Richard Leinenkugel in a Republican primary on September 14th.”

This makes the Republican primary race even more interesting.

Standards and Commitments

Official Statement from Dick Leinenkugel-

"It is no secret that I am not a Republican Party Loyalist. What I am is a Catholic, a conservative and a Marine.

My Commander in Chief was right; we have to abide by Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment - Thou shall not speak ill of any fellow Republican.

While it is too late for those candidates already in our Primary, the new challengers should join our commitment."

April 26, 2010 — Dick Leinenkugel announces his bid for the U.S. Senate