Thompson Wins Republican Senate Primary

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson has won the Republican Senate primary in Wisconsin, setting up a November contest against Democrat Tammy Baldwin.

Thompson only won about one-third of the Republican ballots, but that was enough to defeat second place finisher Eric Hovde by about 18,000 votes. At a noisy victory gathering, Thompson told reporters he is in the Senate contest to help ease the burden of the national debt on future generations. He said, “I don’t need anything on my record. I’ve done all that. I want to save this country.”

Some Republicans say it was spending choices made by Thompson as governor, and later as federal Health and Human Services secretary, that added to the government red ink. Now Thompson is trying to align himself with much younger GOP leaders like Congressman Paul Ryan, who say they share the debt concerns.

As Thompson tries to win in November, he also will need help from older Republican voters, like longtime friend Ed Treich. Treich says Tammy Baldwin does not represent Wisconsin values, “I know Tammy, and Tammy is a nice lady. She comes across very nice when she’s out in public, and she votes wrong every time.”

Democrats say Rep. Baldwin will do what is right for Wisconsin and fight for the middle class.