In a recent Capital Times article Tammy Baldwin seemed to give every indication that she would run for the Democratic nomination in the Wisconsin U.S. senate race. The article brought up points that some skeptics have made critical of her as a general election candidate. The article is good and the author is great, no problem there. The problem is our old friend, "conventional wisdom." Yes, that same old conventional wisdom that is always right, until it is wrong.
Steven Reynolds, wrote about this today in the Wisconsin blog, "Blogging Blue." The conventional wisdom is that Tammy would not be a good general election candidate.
After all, she is a lesbian liberal from Madison! I guess some conventional wisomers don't have much faith in the my fellow Wisconsonites. I mean, when is the last time we elected a liberal from Madison to the United States Senate? Oh right, Russ Feingold in 2004. And 1998. And 1992. Sure, he lost last time, but that was a unique election and voters were determined to send a message that something needed to be done about the economy. Similar results across the country.
But wait! Aren't the adults of Wisconsin afraid of getting the gay cooties? I mean when is the last time a gay senator served Wisconsin in the United States Senate? Well, I do not know for sure and of course it doesn't matter other than being an achievement for the state, but long time rumor is that the holder of the seat opening up, Herb Kohl, is a gay man. This has been an open question/rumor/assumption throughout his time in the Senate. Herb Kohl has been elected to the senate four times! You'd think that if the voters had that much of a problem with the idea of a homosexual representing them he would not have been in the Senate for 20 years.
Apparently some Dem insiders are worried about nasty attack ads. Maybe the GOP would run some about Tammy's sexual orientation, but maybe not. That could actually backfire on them. They surely will attack her for being a liberal and from Madison, but you know what? Republicans running things in Madison aren't too popular these days either. The Democratic base is beyond fired up and most independents are leaning our way.
Ron Kind seems to be considered the "moderate" alternative. Well, he sure is different from Tammy Baldwin, I can say that much. He's made a career out of being a corporate, pro-war democrat. He usually seems all too eager to buy into right wing talking points. He is the stereotypical suit telling you what you want to hear. Chances are he would move even further to the right if he made it to the general election. If elected he looks much more like a Lieberman than a Feingold.
Anyone who knows Tammy and her record knows she is a strong progressive. She also is very nice and very smart. She is a good person and a good politican. She will make an excellent Senator.
And Russ Feingold will make an excellent Governor!