WisPolitics Dem Convention Blog

Dems ready to revel in '06 successes

2007-06-26T16:30:00.000-05:00

Whereas Republicans viewed this year's state convention as a chance to regroup, state Dems go into their convo looking to celebrate.

"It's about celebrating '06," said Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairman Joe Wineke, who couldn't resist a dig at the GOP. "I tell you one thing -- we're not going to come out of our convention saying we need to 'rebrand ourselves.' I seem to remember the Republicans doing that."

"We have not been able to come together and celebrate," said Sen. Lena Taylor of Milwaukee, the first vice chair of the state party. "The last time we got together we talked about what we wanted to do. This is actually the homecoming, the reunion where we say, 'This is what we did, and this is what's next.' I think it's going to be an exciting time."

The annual soiree takes place next weekend at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center. See details: http://www.wisdems.org/ht/d/sp/i/1015605/pid/1015605

Dems are hoping to ride the momentum from an '06 election that saw Gov. Jim Doyle become the first Democratic governor to be re-elected since the early 1970s, saw them re-take control of the Senate for the first time since 2002, saw them win the Republican-leaning 8th Congressional District and saw them narrow the GOP margin in the state Assembly to 52-47. The Democrats are giddy about their chances to take the presidency and the majority in the Assembly in '08.

"People can see what's happened in the Senate," Taylor said. "Knowing that we only need three seats in the Assembly, there's a desire to want to see a difference. People can see a difference already in how things are being done."

Dems see enough vulnerability to flip the three seats needed to swing the majority. Rep. Eugene Hahn won his '06 race by less than 1 percent, while Rep. Brett Davis is back with a one percent margin, and Rep. Lee Nerison won re-election with less than a 3 percent margin.

The convention comes at down time for state campaign activity, with Wisconsin's previously contentious presidential primary taking a backseat as other states leapfrog up the calendar. Plus, 2008 will be the first time in 18 years that there will not be a statewide contest in an even numbered year.

Unlike the Republicans, who were able to draw two second-tier presidential candidates to their event -- Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson -- the Democrats weren't able to draw any of the candidates from their presidential field. Instead, Gov. Jim Doyle will be the keynote speaker. U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Middleton, and Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton will also address the convention on Friday, along with state legislators. Congressional delegation members will speak over the weekend as their schedules permit. U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Milwaukee, Secretary of State Doug La Follette and state Treasurer Dawn Marie Sass will appear on Saturday.

"When it became fairly obvious that the major candidates for president were not going to states that have primaries after February 5, we wanted to move toward celebrating the successes we've had with the governor being re-elected, and taking control in the Senate and making big gains in the Assembly," Wineke said. "We could have gone out and gotten some name, some governor from somewhere or something, but that really didn’t fit our goal."

Taylor doesn't think the lack of a national figure will dampen enthusiasm.

"I don't think it will kill the enthusiasm, because we have some people to be very proud of. We saved SeniorCare. Just getting our own representatives to come and say, 'Woo-hoo, you saved SeniorCare' and get a standing ovation."

Introducing themselves at the convention will be two congressional candidates; Roger Kittelson of Lomira, who will announce he’s taking on U.S. Rep. Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac, and Marge Krupp, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville.

Dem Rep. Gordon Hintz of Oshkosh, the party's 6th CD chair, said the party will continue to hit themes that relate to the middle class: affordable health care, wage fairness and the war in Iraq. The budget will also be a topic at the convention, he said.

"Most people are getting tired of an agenda that says, 'Cut taxes, get rid of government,'" Hintz said. "Most people understand there’s one side that's offering real ideas, and there's the other side that’s pandering to their base."

All the elected party officials are unopposed, though Wineke did weather a storm earlier this year when it was found he'd lobbied for AT&T. He eventually quit the lobbying job.

-- By Greg Bump

New Convention Webcasts

2006-06-13T14:39:00.000-05:00

See new webcasts from the weekend:

Gov. Jim Doyle speech to convention

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold

Lautenschlager, Ross & Feingold Favored in WisPolitics Dem Convo Straw Poll

2006-06-10T15:54:00.000-05:00

Democratic activists voting in the annual WisPolitics.com Straw Poll this weekend favored Peg Lautenschlager for attorney general, Scot Ross for secretary of state and Russ Feingold for president.

Of the 548 delegates, alternates and guests who voted, 315 backed Lautenschlager for AG, or 57.5 percent, compared to 228, or 41.6 percent, for Falk. The rest did not express a preference.

In November, one of them will meet the winner of the Republican primary between former U.S. Attorney JB Van Hollen and Waukesha County DA Paul Bucher.

In the secretary of state primary, Ross was supported by 297, or 54.2 percent, compared to 205, or 37.4, percent for incumbent Doug LaFollette. The rest did not express a preference.

For president, Wisconsin’s junior U.S. senator overwhelmingly had the backing of the party faithful with 295 votes, or 53.8 percent. 2000 Dem nominee Al Gore was next with 55 votes, followed by Hillary Clinton (48) and John Edwards (41).

Last year in Oshkosh, Falk had not yet declared for the race, but she edged the incumbent Lautenschlager by eight votes. Of 299 ballots cast in that AG preference poll, Falk tallied 152 total votes, or 50.8 percent, to AG Lautenschlager's 144, or 48.2 percent. At that convention, Feingold emerged as the top vote-getter on the presidential preference ballot with 98 votes, or 38.8 percent of the 299 total submitted for the presidential preference question. Hillary Clinton was next with 59 votes. There was no straw poll on the secretary of state's race at last year's convention.

See the press release for detailed results.

Guests, Next Year

2006-06-10T15:34:00.000-05:00

This year's convention attracted 907 registered delegates, alternates and registered guests.

Next year's convention will be held in Milwaukee.

Feingold Steals the Show; Dems Say Gov Has Good Convention, Too

2006-06-10T14:15:00.000-05:00

Russ Feingold got the star treatment. Jim Doyle took the steady approach.

Feingold, Wisconsin's junior U.S. senator, gave the party faithful what they wanted at this weekend's Democratic convention, delivering a speech full of red meat issues. He denounced an amendment to ban gay marriage and Vermont-style civil unions, pushed Dems to take a stand against an advisory referendum to bring back the death penalty in Wisconsin and said the president was "in the strike zone" of the high crimes and misdemeanors that the Founding Fathers wrote about.

Doyle took a more subtle approach, talking about fiscal responsibility, education, health care and stem cells.

"Russ is a rock star. He hits at the core of the party," one Dem said. "Jim has a different style."

Dems said the contrast was no shock considering Feingold and Doyle's personalities and history with the party. Feingold has cultivated the fire brand image, while Doyle has always been seen as the steady, prosecutor-type by the party faithful, they say.

Doyle also made no mention of the ongoing Georgia Thompson trial, which is expected to wrap up next week, and did not meet with reporters. He also made no mention about ethics reform in his speech to the delegates.

One Dem said there was no point for Doyle to talk about the trial.

"What's he supposed to say?" the Dem said, pointing out reporters will have their chance to grill Doyle about the outcome after it comes down, likely later this week.

Another said, "Of course they're nervous." But the Dem then followed with a persistent line from party members this weekend: They're confident Thompson will be found innocent and Doyle's reputation as an ethical person with the grassroots will remain intact.

AG Candidates Talk Immigration; Issue Gets Little Play at Convention

2006-06-10T13:50:00.000-05:00

While the immigration issue rages nationally, Wisconsin Democrats spoke sparsely on the topic during this weekend's convention. Gov. Doyle made a passing reference to those who "brought their values with them from other states and other countries" in his speech last night.

U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., spearheaded the House legislation that would make illegal immigration a felony, along with other provisions. The Senate has passed a different version of the legislation, including a plan to allow the estimated 11 million or so illegal immigrants in the country now an avenue toward achieving legal status.

Illegal immigration has become an issue in the AG race after both Dem candidates -- Dane Co. Exec. Kathleen Falk and incumbent Peg Lautenschlager -- appeared at a pro-immigration rally earlier this spring.

GOP candidate Paul Bucher this week also said the state has paroled at least 77 illegal immigrants from the prison system in the last three years. He pushed a proposal for state law enforcement agencies to buy into a federal program designed to give local law enforcement officers the power to fully enforce federal immigration laws.

Falk and Lautenschlager sat down with WisPolitics to talk about their views on immigration. Both support the Senate version of the legislation and are opposed to Sensenbrenner's bill.

Falk defended a Dane County policy that prohibits public employees from inquiring about someone's immigration status unless required by state or federal law.

Hear her talk about it:
http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/Falk_1.mp3

She also addressed Bucher's proposal. Listen here:
http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/Falk_2.mp3

Lautenschlager said the national debate over illegal immigration is "creating a race war." Listen here:
http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/Lautenschlager_1.mp3

She also responded to Bucher's proposal. Listen here:
http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/Lautenschlager_2.mp3

8th CD Dem Candidates Bash Bush, Iraq War

2006-06-10T13:24:00.000-05:00

Each of the three 8th CD Dem candidates popped shots at the president and the war in Iraq Saturday morning. But Jamie Wall, a Green Bay businessman and former Department of Commerce hand, distanced himself from the pack, calling for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

"We’ve done everything we can do in Iraq and more. … It’s time for the
Iraqis to settle this; it’s time for us to bring our troops home," Wall declared to roaring applause.

Wall said he called for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield to resign months before several retired generals went on the air demanding he step down. Wall also called the war a "mistake to begin with."

"We never had a plan in Iraq," he added.

Former mayor of De Pere and former Brown Co. Exec. Nancy Nusbaum continued the theme saying the U.S. needs "to bring home the brave men and women that George Bush sent into Iraq with no plan."

Nusbaum on Wednesday began airing her first TV ad in the race calling on the President to do just that.

"It’s time to bring fiscal policy back to Wisconsin and fiscal services back to our veterans," she said.

"We are ready to send (8th CD Republican) John Gard back to Sun Prairie," Nusbaum joked, referring to the Madison suburb where Gard owned a home before selling it this spring.

Steve Kagen, the allergist from Appleton jumped on board, saying "George Bush, Mark Green, John Gard, your hocus pocus magic show has ended. Now please exit stage right like Tom Delay."

Though he also said the U.S. must end its involvement in the "civil war in Iraq," Kagen focused his remarks on taking back control of Congress from the "corrupt" Republican leadership this November.

Fair Wisconsin Manager Urges Defeat of 'Evil' Amendment

2006-06-10T13:16:00.000-05:00

Fair Wisconsin manager Mike Tate urged the state to make history in November by becoming the first to reject such an “evil” amendment as the one that would ban gay marriage and Vermont-style civil unions that’s on the ballot this fall.

Tate praised Democrats for being the only major state party in the country to take an official stance against an anti-gay marriage amendment.

He spoke passionately about lifelong gay couples who would be stripped of their rights to funeral and hospital visitation should the amendment pass.

“When the person you chose to spend your live with dies, the last thing you should worry about is whether you have the legal documents to visit them in the hospital,” Tate said.

”That is not how we treat people in Wisconsin”

Tate said Fair Wisconsin is a non-partisan organization, and joked that
the Republican Party must have forgot to invite him to their convention. The GOP has spearheaded the move to get the anti-gay marriage amendment on the November ballot, in what some call an effort to boost Republican base turnout.

Tate also spoke to the state Libertarian Party convention.

Introducing Tate was state party Chair Joe Wineke, who said under Tate’s leadership, Fair Wisconsin has amassed more than 7,000 volunteers and now has campaign coordinators in each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.

W. Virginia Gov. Keynotes Convention

2006-06-10T12:54:00.000-05:00

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin implored fellow Democrats to tell their story to voters or risk having Republicans continue to do it for them.

"The Democratic Party is small town. That’s who we are," said Manchin, the convention’s key note speaker. He added, "You don’t have to pass a litmus test to be a Democrat."

Manchin, vice-chair of the Democratic Governors Association, recalled his upbringing in rural Farmington, W. Va., and encouraged Democrats to appeal to and protect all people.

He also praised Doyle in his speech to the delegation.

"If they’re not unbeatable, they should be," Manchin said of the Doyle-Lawton ticket.

In a meeting with reporters before his speech, Manchin said that retaining Jim Doyle as Wisconsin governor was critical for Wisconsin,.

"He’s the first person I look to," Manchin said. "It’s imperative that Jim Doyle is re-elected."

Manchin said the DGA is giving its full support to Doyle, as well as a proportional share of its fundraising money.

"Thank God Jim’s doing pretty well on his own raising money," Manchin said.

Platform, Resolution Push for Impeachment

2006-06-10T11:35:00.000-05:00

The party faithful approved a platform calling for the impeachment of President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. They also approved a resolution pledging to hold organizational meetings to get county and municipal referenda on impeachment and the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

A section of the party platform reads:

We must do everything possible to prevent our enemies from attacking us, but we believe that this can be done without sacrificing the civil rights guaranteed under the Constitution. Therefore, we call upon Congress to begin impeachment proceedings immediately against President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld.

Resolution 06-PG-03 reads:

WHEREAS, the DPW in 2005 passed "impeachment" and "expeditious withdrawal of US troops from Iraq" resolutions and now the high crimes and misdemeanors and war are much worse;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW shall act on these resolutions by conducting organizing meetings throughout Wisconsin to get county and municipal referenda questions on impeachment and withdrawal on the 11/7/06 and 4/3/07 ballots; cooperate with other organizations seeking the same objectives; provide financial and legal assistance as necessary; and appoint immediately after the 2006 State Convention an implementation committee to see that this effort is conducted with serious determination.

See the party platform: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=64233
See the list of resolutions approved: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=64234

Kohl: Thompson Candidacy Would Be Interesting

2006-06-10T11:29:00.000-05:00

Dem. Sen Herb Kohl says a potential race against Tommy Thompson would be "interesting." But he’s confident in his record and is going to run on his accomplishments regardless of who he faces.

Thompson, who rejected a run for governor last month, has been pondering a bid against Kohl. Polls have suggested the race would be close.

"Every day, we do something that’s good for the people of this state," Kohl said. "I do not take it for granted."

Kohl used his Saturday morning address to delegates to delegates to stress the importance of retaking the national government for the Democrats in 2006 and 2008.

Kohl said the continued failures of Republicans at the highest levels of government necessitated a change. He said that years of irresponsible tax cuts and tilting bills to corporate interests has finally made the public aware of Republican mismanagement.

"We know now we have to take back the Congress, and we have to take back the presidency," Kohl said. "It’s unfortunate, it’s sad, it’s not something to exalt over, but it’s something we have to resolve."

SOS Candidate Ross Talks Caucus Connections

2006-06-10T10:43:00.000-05:00

Dem SOS candidate Scot Ross openly admits the political work he did as a member of both Democratic caucuses was wrong. But he says others have made mistakes, too.

SOS Doug LaFollette has had several scrapes with ethics rules in his almost three decades in office, including a $500 fine for allowing a group his wife ran to use his state office.

Ross, who had taxpayers cover $3,895 of his legal bills during the probe that resulted in the convictions of five lawmakers, spoke with WisPolitics this morning about his caucus ties and how he'll respond to any attacks over his connections to the illegal work.

Click here to listen to part of the Ross interview with WisPolitics:
http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/Ross_Interview.mp3

Masel Gets Speaking Spot After All

2006-06-10T09:47:00.000-05:00

Ben Masel -- former Libertarian candidate for Congress, hemp advocate and now Dem primary opponent for U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl -- is getting a spot to speak at the state party's convention after all.

Masel had a little tiff with party officials this week after he wasn't listed on the agenda for speakers. Masel and party officials said state chair Joe Wineke had promised Masel a spot, but that pledge didn't find its way to organizers who set up the agenda.

Everything got worked out this week, and Masel got his spot right after lunch. Kohl was speaking at 10 a.m. to lead off Saturday's speakers.

"At least everyone will have a fresh attention span," Masel said.

Tunes, Beer Flow for Dems

2006-06-10T02:57:00.000-05:00

The hospitality suite of Dem Gov. Jim Doyle featured a full bar, plenty of beer and Chicago-based rock band Lockwood.

The band welcomed the guv and his wife into their suite late Friday night with Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.” After shaking hands with staff and supporters, Doyle delivered a brief speech praising the upbeat and optimistic mood of the convo-goers. He concluded his remarks with some props for Lockwood -- singling out front man Sam Jackson -- who previously worked for the guv’s office before moving to Chicago with his band last year.

Partiers danced late into the night as Lockwood played some original material, as well as covers that included The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” and Outkast’s “Hey Ya.”

Still, the Dems kept it straightforward in their hospitality suites for the most part.

8th CD Dem Steve Kagen’s suite featured an ice cream sundae bar with assorted toppings. Jamie Wall, another 8th CD Dem, had a sparse room with Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap.

AG challenger Kathleen Falk offered La Crosse City Brewery beer to visitors. Incumbent Peg Lautenschlager had a pre-party before the convention got rolling.

One of the hospitality suites drawing the most attention was the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin room, which was lit with red lights and a movie projector rolling pro-PPAWI shorts. The tables were lined with packets of free condoms and KY lubricant, while volunteers handed out T-shirts reading I (heart) EC, i.e. emergency contraception.

Doyle Talks Wisconsin Values vs. Washington Ways

2006-06-09T22:55:00.000-05:00

Gov. Doyle got his biggest cheers Friday night when he pledged he would not turn his back on families confronting disease and disability who see hope in embryonic stem cell research.

Doyle's support of the research has been a central theme of his campaign. He said being governor of the state of Wisconsin, where the research was pioneered, means he has a special obligation to protect the work.

"I will not let partisan politics slam the door on hope for these families," Doyle said. "For as long as I am governor, Wisconsin will lead the nation in stem cell research."

Doyle opened his speech by contrasting what he said were Wisconsin values and Washington values, an obvious reference to his opponent, U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Green Bay.

"In five short months, Wisconsin voters will head to the polls. They will have a clear choice. A choice between the way we do things here in Wisconsin, and the way things get done in Washington. A choice between Wisconsin values and Washington values. A real choice."

Read the rest of Doyle's speech

Feingold Fires Up Crowd

2006-06-09T22:20:00.000-05:00

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold told the crowd Democrats can't win this fall if they're timid.

He took his own advice.

The Wisconsin Democrat railed against a proposed amendment to ban gay marriage and Vermont-style civil unions, the death penalty and the president's domestic wiretapping program.

"We will not win by default," Feingold implored the crowd. "We will not win by running out the clock."

Feingold recounted how one Republican U.S. senator held a news conference in which he bragged no one in his family had been divorced or had a homosexual relationship.

"We're not all born the same. Some of us make mistakes," said Feingold, who is twice divorced. "But we're still proud of our families."

The crowd cheered as he bragged Democrats had never tried to write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution to torment people. He also predicted Wisconsin voters would reject the proposed amendment to the state constitution on gay marriage.

He did not call for the impeachment of President Bush over what he called his abuses of executive power. But he said the president was "in the strike zone" of the high crimes and misdemeanors that the Founding Fathers wrote about.

Falk: Too Early to Say if She'll Use Peg Arrest in Campaign

2006-06-09T22:19:00.000-05:00

After the speeches, Falk wouldn’t close the door on using Lautenschlager's drunk driving arrest in a campaign ad.

In an impromptu press conference with reporters following her speech, Falk accused Lautenschlager of starting a dirty campaign. Lautenschalger put out a release this week questioning Falk’s Democratic credentials.

But Falk gave mixed messages on whether she would run a clean campaign.

"Certainly, my opponent fired a very negative shot," said Falk, citing Lautenschlager’s release from Thursday.

"I have helped Democrats for as long as I can remember," she said, adding that she had never considered running for any office as a Republican.

"I run positive campaigns," she added. But when asked if she would bring up her opponent’s drunk driving arrest in a campaign ad, Falk said, "I don’t know. It is way too early to tell."

AG Candidates Deliver Back-to-Back Addresses

2006-06-09T22:18:00.000-05:00

Kathleen Falk warned fellow Dems of the danger of losing the AG’s office while Peg Lautenschlager ticked off her credentials in their speeches to the convention.

Falk got the opportunity to address convo-goers first.

"Can you imagine waking up in November with a Republican attorney general?" she asked. "J.B. Van Hollen and Paul Bucher would turn Wisconsin into South Dakota. Is that what you want?" she again asked, referring to the GOP candidate’s opposition to abortion.

Falk spent a large portion of her speech railing off a long list of endorsements, as certain sections of the audience cheered in response. Then in what may have been a reference to her opponent’s troubled relationship with the governor, Falk said, "As your nominee, I will stand beside Gov. Jim Doyle (as he seeks re-election)."

"It’s not enough to fight the good fight; we’ve got to win," Falk said.

Lautenschlager quickly addressed her drunk driving incident saying,

"I have made some mistakes along the way … but I come before you knowing my core values have never, never changed."

She then spoke exclusively on her record since she has taken office, saying she has helped to lower meth usage in Wisconsin, to arrest Internet criminals who poach on children, to fight "horrible" legislation seeking to pollute state lakes and rivers, and to fight to keep gas prices down.

She pointed to the more than 30 suits she has filed against pharmaceutical companies.

"I have taken on the powerful," Lautenschlager said to a roaring response from the crowd.

SOS Candidates Address Convention

2006-06-09T22:00:00.000-05:00

Incumbent SOS Doug LaFollette hit on anti-voter suppression themes in his speech to delegates Friday night, while challenger Scot Ross questioned whether the party had asked too little of its secretary of state.

Ross has taken on the long-time incumbent, arguing the party needs energetic and enthusiastic leadership from its SOS.

LaFollette made an appeal to young voters, saying he has been active working with groups such as Rock the Vote and the United Council for UW Students to make sure that voter turnout is consistently high in Wisconsin.

He also said that while his office does not monitor elections, he has nevertheless been at the front lines when it comes to promoting the need and the right for all citizens to vote.

"The election process is clearly broken in places like Florida and Ohio," LaFollette said.

Ross told WisPolitics after his speech that LaFollette has not been effective in his position of leadership.

"There has been a lot of authority taken away from that office, and if we’re going to take back some of the authority we once had, we are going to need a change of leadership," Ross said.

SEIU Mobilizes Straw Poll Support for Falk

2006-06-09T21:55:00.000-05:00

Dane Co. Exec. and AG candidate Kathleen Falk made her grand entrance into the convo halls as more than 30 purple-clad SEIU members lined the entryway chanting her name and hoisting signs.

They also chanted “Whomp there it is.”

After Falk made here entrance, the SEIU members filed down the escalator directly to the WisPolitics straw poll.

“We’re voting for Falk,” exclaimed one SEIU member.

Baldwin, Moore, Obey Miss Convention

2006-06-09T19:57:00.000-05:00

Dem U.S. Reps. Tammy Baldwin and Dave Obey missed their speaking slots tonight because of votes in Congress.

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore was absent as well because of a family commitment, according to the party.

Wanna Buy a Raffle Ticket?

2006-06-09T19:48:00.000-05:00

Vendor and candidate tables are packed wall-to-wall through the halls of the La Crosse Center.

One of the tables catching the attention of convo-goers is the DPW official raffle. Volunteers are selling $5 raffle tickets for the chance to win prizes donated from some of the candidates for federal and statewide races. They are also featuring a DPW credit card that automatically contributes funds to the Dem party with each credit card purchase.

U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl’s campaign donated tickets to his private suite at the Bradley Center for a Milwaukee Admirals game. 8th CD Dem Nancy Nusbaum’s campaign donated two fifth-row tickets for a Dec. 21 Packers vs. Vikings game at Lambeau Field. Another prize being raffled off was a hand-delivered dinner for six, prepared by AG Peg Lautenschlager.

Also holding a raffle was the Waupaca Co. Dem Party, which was giving away a 12-gauge, semi-automatic Remington Model 11-97 shotgun; the retail value is $700.

"Some of our Republican friends believe we aren’t interested in hunting," said a volunteer selling tickets for $3.

Competing Feingold Booths

2006-06-09T19:42:00.000-05:00

Russ Feingold is so popular among Dem activists here, he has competing fan bases operating from two separate convo tables.

On the lower level is a Progressive Patriots Fund table supporting Feingold’s PAC. Take a quick trip up the escalator and you can find a Russ 2008 table supporting a potential Feingold bid for the presidency.

The volunteers at the Progressive Patriots Fund table say they aren’t working in collusion with the Russ 2008. But when asked if they supported a Russ prez run, one responded with an enthusiastic "Yes, I hope he runs."

Both tables have yellow flyers reading, "Don’t Spy on Me" in reference to the senator’s stance against the NSA wiretapping program.

"They’re stealing our slogan too!" joked the Progressive Patriots volunteer.

SOS Candidates Work the Crowd

2006-06-09T19:40:00.000-05:00

Secretary of State candidate Scot Ross, who will face longtime incumbent Doug LaFollette in the September Dem primary, is passing out chocolate silver dollars as he approaches activists in the hall.

Meanwhile LaFollette, sporting a wide-brimmed hat, is collecting signatures on the other side of the hall.

“I’ve got dozens of old friends coming up to me asking me if they can sign. I’ve got several hundred names,” said LaFollette, who’s sporting a vest that reads across the back, “Hello, I’m Doug LaFollette.”

Doyle Makes Stops on Way to La Crosse

2006-06-09T19:09:00.000-05:00

Gov. Doyle made the most of his trip to La Crosse today.

He first stopped at Camp Douglas on his way west to speak to the Wisconsin National Guard Leadership Conference and the opening of the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office at Volk Air National Guard Base.

While in LaCrosse, he handed out a $375,000 Transportation Economic Assistance grant for infrastructure to support a Kwik Trip plant expansion. The project is expected to create 166 jobs.

Doyle state spokesman Matt Canter said the governor's campaign would reimburse the state for part of the trip because it included political work.