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Greer, Magnum challenge Baldwin at college Republican event
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Although the Wisconsin Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat has attracted more attention this election season, Republicans Ron Greer and Dave Magnum are also squaring off in the 2nd Congressional District primary Sept. 14 for the chance to take on U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin in the general election come November.
The two candidates spoke at the first College Republicans meeting of the year Tuesday, introducing themselves to the young conservative crowd and outlining their platforms, touching on abortion, job growth and taxes.
“I believe that America was built on some certain primary principles. One is the guarantee that every person in this country has a right to life. Secondly, every person has a right to personal liberty,” said the staunchly pro-life Greer.
Greer gave students a synopsis of his career in public service, including 18 years as a Madison firefighter. Greer is making his third run at the Wisconsin 2nd Congressional District seat this year, after coming up short against Baldwin in 1998 and 2002.
Magnum, who owns a broadcasting company operating eight radio stations and one television station throughout the state, delved deep into policy issues during the meeting.
Magnum said his experience as a small business owner gave him a better perspective on the Wisconsin economy than Baldwin.
“I know not only how to sign the back of a paycheck, I know how to sign the front of a paycheck,” Magnum said. “When I go to Washington, it’s not going to be my own personal agenda, it’s going to be the agenda of this district. We’re going to create jobs for this district.”
Magnum portrayed himself as a local entrepreneur whose focus will be squarely placed on Wisconsin. He promised to increase the amount of federal dollars coming back to the state, saying it ranked 49th in the U.S. in receiving such appropriations.
“Tammy raised about two-thirds of her funds in this campaign from outside the state, places like New York, Washington D.C., and Hollywood … my priorities are not going to be New York, but New Glarus.”
Magnum also criticized Baldwin for voting against a law that would help small businesses cover health care costs, noting the contradiction with Baldwin’s stated agenda of providing health insurance to as many people as possible.
Both Magnum and Greer may have more support on the traditionally liberal campus than previously thought — the College Republicans meeting Tuesday attracted a standing-room only crowd of approximately 300 students.
Greer, remembering College Republicans meetings years ago that attracted as few as 15 students, said of the turnout: “I thought I was in the wrong spot.”
One obstacle Greer and Magnum may face this year, though, is a lack of publicity as voters concern themselves with only the presidential election, according to UW political science professor Donald Ferree.
“You have an entrenched incumbent (Baldwin), and in a situation in which people are paying so much attention to the presidential election, it hasn’t left much space for other candidates and races.”
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Vote Dave Magnum on this tuesday!!
ditto Dave. You the MAN!
I would like to know more about Magnum’s stands on bigger issues, such as the war in Iraq or Abortion. These issues are only briefly disscused in debates and then not even posted on candidates websites.
GO DAVE