The local media, the State GOP, and even Russ Feingold have been portraying the Republican Primary as between 3 business as usual guys, State Sen Bob Welch, gas pipeline mogul Tim Michaels, and car dealer Russ Darrow.
Back in this comment I suggested that maverick Robert Lorge could take it, with the establishment split.
After winning votes at several County Party meetings, Lorge has now forced the State GOP to admit him to their debates, etc, but at a price. He's now signed on to the Party's "Unity Pledge," below.
"U.S. SENATE UNITY PLEDGE
As the Republican candidates for the office of United States Senate seeking to replace Democrat Russell Feingold in the 2004 election, we agree to the following:
Russell Feingold has poorly represented the people of Wisconsin during his tenure as a U. S. Senator and is out of step with the views and principles of the vast majority of Wisconsin citizens.
As Republican candidates, we share a common desire to improve Wisconsin's representation in the U. S. Senate. We will remain focused on electing a Senator who represents the values and priorities of the people of Wisconsin. And we will concentrate our message on what we can do to improve the lives of the American people.
We pledge to run issue-oriented primary campaigns that focus on articulating our visions for Wisconsin's future while contrasting our individual agendas with Russell Feingold's terribly misguided record as U. S. Senator.
Finally, we will use our campaigns to help strengthen Wisconsin's local Republican organizations. And we pledge our full support and assistance to President George W. Bush, the eventual Republican United States Senate primary election winner and the entire Republican ticket in 2004."
No longer in a position to run against the Party insiders, Lorge will get lost in the sauce.