Repubs dealt big blow

Former Wisconsin governor: I won't run for Senate
Posted: April 15th, 2010 03:30 PM ET

From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney


Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson has decided not to run for Senator.
(CNN) - Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson has decided against mounting a Senate bid, dealing a blow to Republicans who viewed him as the party's best chance to topple incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold.

"My family didn't want me to run," Thompson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Thursday about his decision not run. The onetime presidential candidate announced his decision at a Tea Party rally outside the Wisconsin State Capitol.

"It's time for new voices and new faces," Thompson told the crowd, according to local television station WBAY.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/?fbid=I3R3GBd04e5

:shrug:

n/t

Feingold and Gillibrand of New York were supposed to be ripe for the picking, but neither has a solid challenger for 2010. The reason, in my opinion, is the lack of self-funding Republican candidates. The national party doesn't enjoy its customary 4-1 funding advantage over the Democrats, and budgeting their resources isn't a GOP strong point. They aren't accustomed to picking and choosing which races look promising and could use a cash jolt, which races are lead pipe cinches and don't require funding, and which races are hopeless money sucks that shouldn't be funded. Candidates like Thompson who can't just write their own campaigns seven-figure checks (calling Carly Fiorina) can't depend on the national party to sink any dough into their race, particularly not when it might swing a close election.