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Green, Walker teaming up
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Also by Tom Schalmo:
- Carolyn Martin to become next UW chancellor (May 28, 2008)
Related Stories:
- Walker pulls out of governor race (March 27, 2006)
- State politicians gear up for 2006 election (May 3, 2005)
- Green to run for governor (May 2, 2005)
- Gubernatorial hopeful speaks (January 26, 2005)
- Walker announces gubernatorial campaign (January 25, 2005)
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by Tom Schalmo
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Congressman Mark Green, R-Wis., and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker appeared at a joint news conference Monday, proclaiming their unified effort to defeat Gov. Jim Doyle in November's gubernatorial election.
Walker dropped out of the governor's race on Friday, making way for Green to run head-to-head with Doyle.
"Mark Green shares my commitment to lower taxes and higher standards," Walker said at the press conference, according to a transcript distributed by the Green campaign. "I'm proud to support him and look forward to working with him to restore integrity and fiscal responsibility to Madison."
Green praised Walker at the event, expressing appreciation for his "selfless act."
"Scott's campaign and my campaign have always had the same goal — to give the good people of the state of Wisconsin a governor who shares their values and priorities," he said. "We are now closer to achieving just that goal."
Green also added that he was certain both he and Walker would serve as governor sometime in the future.
"I am certain that, about 30 years from now, when we both gather for a reunion of former governors, we will be able to look back on the last 15 months as a time when both of us grew into stronger candidates and, more importantly, stronger leaders," he said.
Brian Shactman, chair of University of Wisconsin College Democrats, said Walker stepping down is positive for Doyle's re-election effort.
"I think anytime you narrow the field down to the final two candidates, you get two specific campaigns," he said. "I think that's great because I think that Jim Doyle is the one that's going to rest well with the Wisconsin family."
Both Shactman and Jordan Smith, chair of UW College Republicans, feel their party's candidate has a better chance now that Walker has dropped out.
"I think this will unify the Republican team behind Mark Green, and we can use all of our resources to beat Gov. Doyle in November," Smith said.
Shactman, however, said he believes the Democrats now have a chance to expose Green's weaknesses.
"I think it's a positive in our eyes," he said. "I think it's great that now we can get down to work and we can start saying why Jim Doyle is the person to be re-elected and Mark Green is not."
Walker cited a lack of fundraising as his reason for leaving the gubernatorial race.
"Our resources would be so limited that most of it would likely be spent on ads attacking our Republican opponent, an unappealing option for me, which will only bolster Jim Doyle's re-election chances," he wrote in a statement.
Smith and Shactman both said the campaigns now have the opportunity to directly compare the two candidates and talk about the issues.
"I guess right now I think the biggest issue is most likely going to be tax relief and also focusing on Doyle's vetoes and other things that the Republicans have been trying to get through and that have been blocked by Gov. Doyle," Smith said.
But Shactman pointed to Green's record as a congressman in Washington.
"I think this will be the first time when Wisconsinites really get to see the extreme record Mark Green has in terms of voting and certain issues," he said.
Election Day for the gubernatorial race will be Tuesday, Nov. 7.
