Walker Administration Announces Staffing Changes 

On Wednesday Governor Scott Walker announced some significant staffing changes in his Administration, putting additional focus on economic development by moving his Deputy Secretary Ryan Murray to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Deputy Secretary and replacing Murray with Republican State Senator Rich Zipperer (R-Pewaukee), who will serve both as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel to Governor Walker.  Murray is taking over the position of current COO Mike Klonsinski who is moving to the Chief Financial Officer position. Jocelyn Webster, who served as Communications Director for the Department of Administration will now be the Communications Director in the Governor's Office. 

Gov. Walker released the following statement regarding the moves: 

Ryan Murray-Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Dep. Chief of Staff Ryan Murray

Sen. Rich Zipperer (R-Pewaukee

Finance numbers: 

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin  

Baldwin's campaign reported that she raised $2.2 million in the last reporting period, the most of any Wisconsin candidate, and almost $3.5 million cash-on-hand.  Her campaign also stated that the average donation was approximately $68 and 90% of the donors contributed $100 or less.

Thompson's campaign reported raising $833,912 in the last reporting period, the most of any Republican candidate.  The campaign also reported having $764,050 on hand.  Thompson's report also showed that he spent $859,566 in the last quarter.  

Former Congressman Mark Neumann

The Neumann campaign reported raising about $733,000 during the last reporting period.   Neumann's report also showed he currently has $789,532 in cash on hand, slightly more than Thompson.    The Journal Sentinel reported in their coverage of the released of finance data that "Neumann has benefitted from spending of nearly $700,000 by Club for Growth, an anti-tax group, on ads that have attacked Thompson and Hovde. Club for Growth has endorsed Neumann."

The Hovde campaign reported raising nearly $240,000 in the last quarter, however his real fundraising impact was putting an additional $2.25 million of his own money into his campaign in the last quarter, putting the total amount of money that he has put into his campaign to date at $4 million.  During the last reporting period Hovde spent $4 million on advertising and had a cash-on-hand balance of $546,867.  

Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald

Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald's campaign announced that they had raised $41,032 in the last reporting period.    

Control of the US Senate

With a third of the US Senate up for re-election this year, national political observers have keyed in on 6 to 8 races that they believe will decide which party controls the US Senate for the 2013-2014 session.

One nationally known political observer and commentator, Professor Larry Sabato from the University of Virginia Center for Politcs, released his most recent observations on the status of the US Senate races in his online publication "Sabato's Crystal Ball."

Sabato believes that the state of the race right now is that Democrats are retaining/winning 47 seats and Republicans are retaining/winning 47 seats and six seats are in play that will decide which party controls the Senate.  

In order to hit the magic 51, according to Sabato handicapping of 6 seats in play, one party will have to win four of these six races:

1. Florida- Sen. Bill Nelson (D) vs. winner of GOP Primary (likely Rep. Connie Mack)
2. Massachusetts- Sen. Scott Brown (R) vs. former Obama Administration official Elizabeth Warren
3. Missouri- Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) vs. winner of GOP Primary.
4. Montana- Sen. Jon Tester (D) v. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R)
5. Virginia- Former VA Gov. Tim Kaine (D) and former Sen. George Allen (R)
6. Wisconsin- Cong. Tammy Baldwin (D) vs. winner of GOP Primary

Sabato writes descriptions of the six races in his report, below is the excerpt he wrote on Wisconsin:

- Wisconsin: As noted above, if Tommy Thompson wins the primary, he would start as the favorite (as in, we could see moving this race to leans Republican). But if any of the others win, the race stays a toss-up, and might even tilt to Tammy Baldwin. ADVANTAGE: NONE 

Ad Watch:

As the August 14th Primary date closes in, the ad war is starting to heat up with each campaign throwing up new radio and television ads this week:

Thompson Campaign- Road to Repeal

The Thompson campaign released a new ad touting Governor Thompson's accomplishments and noting that he would be the 51st Republican in the Senate, giving the Republicans the majority and the ability to "repeal ObamaCare."

Hovde Campaign- Mud

The Hovde campaign released an ad critical of Thompson and Neumann for attacking him and accusing the other two candidates of slinging mud.

Hovde-Mud

Neumann Campaign- Cocaine & Quail Don't Mix

Neumann touts his plan to cut trillions in spending without raising taxes and criticizes the "wasteful spending" of the Obama Administration by highlighting dollars given to research the effects cocaine has on the breeding habits of Quail.

Neumann-Cocaine and Quail Don't Mix

 Neumann Campaign-Hovde Supports High Speed Rail & Bailouts

 The Neumann campaign goes after Eric Hovde for supporting stimulus funding for high-speed rail and bailouts for banks "like Obama" and for financially supporting Governor Jim Doyle's campaign.

Neumann-Hovde Supports High Speed Rail & Bailouts

Hovde Campaign- Response to negative Attack from Mark Neumann

The Hovde campaign highlights Neumann's votes for earmarks, "including bridge to nowhere," and taking stimulus money into his green energy company and "lobbying congress for more"while rebutting the attacks Club for Growth made against Hovde. 

Hovde-Eric Hovde response to negative attack from Mark Neumann

Fitzgerald Campaign- (Radio) Proven

In his first ad of the campaign, Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald talks about his record of working with Governor Walker over the last year to reform Wisconsin and his "proven conservative credentials." 

Jeff Fitzgerald - Proven

Club for Growth-Worse

The National Club for Growth, which has endorsed Mark Neumann, has begun airing an ad critical of both Thompson and Hovde.

Club for Growth-"Only Worse"

YouTube Channels:

In case we miss an ad or you want to check-out videos from the campaign trails, below please find links to all of the major candidates YouTube channels:

• Tammy Baldwin 
•  Eric Hovde  
•  Mark Neumann  
•  Tommy Thompson  

• 1st CD Cong. Paul Ryan has the most cash-on-hand of any candidate, nearly $5.5 million.
• 4th CD Cong. Gwen Moore has the least cash-on-hand of any incumbent, only $97k.
• Both targeted Congressmen Duffy and Ribble have over $1 million cash-on-hand a piece and each has about a $.5 million advantage over their challengers.   

Senate Majority Leader Mark Miller (D-Monona) cited the jobs report as "further proof" that a special session on jobs is needed prior to the November elections or the beginning of the 2013-2014 Legislation Session.

"Wisconsin workers shouldn't have to wait until next year for the legislature to get to work on job creation. They want jobs now and they don't care about whether or not there are elections coming up. I hope Republicans leaders in the Assembly and Senate will work with us to take immediate action on job creation this year," [Senate Majority Leader Mark] Miller concluded.  (Link to complete press release)

Link to DWD Press Release reporting out the latest BLS numbers.

Judge issues permanent injunction on Voter ID Law

Dane County Circuit Court Judge David Flanagan issued a permanent injunction against Wisconsin's Voter ID law, stopping the law from taking effect and making it very likely that the law will not be in place for the November presidential elections.  

In his order, Judge Flanagan concluded that the law creates a "serious" impairment to voting and was unconvinced that there was voter fraud the necessitated the law change noting that the law is "largely needless."

"Act 23 addresses a problem which is very limited, if indeed it exists. It does not appear to recognize or to account for the difficulty its demands impose upon indigent and elderly citizens who are eligible under the constitution to vote. It offers no flexibility, no alternative to prevent the exclusion of a constitutionally qualified voter. Given the sacred, fundamental interest at issue, it is clear that Act 23, while perhaps addressing a legitimate concern, is not sufficiently narrow to avoid needless and significant impairment of the right to vote. The enactment steps beyond the proper authority of the legislature and is in violation of the Wisconsin Constitution, Article III, Section 1."

Wisconsin Attorney General JB Van Hollen has announced that he will appeal the ruling.

"My office will be appealing the Dane County Circuit Court's decision in NAACP v. Walker, et al.   Voter identification helps ensure election integrity.  It is a measure that protects the right to vote.  And similar election integrity reforms have been upheld as constitutional by the United States Supreme Court. 

I believe that Wisconsin's law complies with the state and federal constitutions and should be allowed to govern elections in this state.  So long as the injunctions remain in place in NAACP v. Walker, et al., and League of Women Voters v. Walker, et al., that will not occur.  An appeal is necessary to vindicate the law, and we look forward to presenting our arguments to the appellate court."

Judge Flanagan's order can be found here

Attorney General Van Hollen's statement on the ruling can be found here

  

Wisconsin Presidential Polling: 

• GOP Events are in RED
• DEM Events are in BLUE  

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