All four candidates for governor debated the issues together for the first time Wednesday.
Included in the debate were the two main party favorites, Republican candidate Scott McCallum and Democratic candidate Jim Doyle, along with Green Party candidate Jim Young and Libertarian candidate Ed Thompson.
Wednesday’s debate was a welcome event for the third-party candidates, who typically turn to other methods of spreading their message.
“[Wednesday’s] debate is a wonderful example of how this race is open to all candidates,” said Susan Young, scheduler for Green Party candidate Jim Young. “People are realizing [winning] is a possibility and there is another option.”
Candidates such as Thompson and Jim Young may not have the same amount of funds as Democratic candidate Jim Doyle and Republican candidate Governor Scott McCallum, but they use alternative sources to get their message across.
Susan Young said Jim Young focuses more on attending community forums, school board meetings and rallies within cities to discuss the issues with them.
“People really notice if you’re there to listen,” Susan Young said.
Jim Young’s campaign focuses on the percentage of people that do not vote in the elections. Instead of the citizens coming to him, he goes to the citizens.
Jim Young has not been covered in the media as much as other gubernatorial candidates; however, Wednesday’s debate may have been a turning point.
“We have been getting more media attention lately,” Susan Young said. “Once you’re in the paper or in the media, more media outlets pay attention to you.”
Competitor Ed Thompson has been getting a substantial amount of media attention since the beginning of his campaign.
“I feel that the news has been very fair for me,” Thompson said. “The third voice has got to be there. I just wanted to bring out another point of view.”
Thompson has also used a face-to-face approach for his campaign and has continued to meet with Wisconsin citizens across the state. He made multiple visits to the University of Wisconsin, including attending all Badger home football games.
Raising money is a challenge for his campaign, but Thompson said he does not accept special-interest money.
“The people who are represented are the people with the huge amounts of money,” Thompson said.
Thompson said he has driven more than 100,000 miles across Wisconsin to meet voters; however, as far as publicity is concerned, that doesn’t compare to one television ad.
“It is a drop in a bucket when they can run one TV ad,” Thompson said. “There is so much money.”
Thompson hopes that he can do in Wisconsin what Gov. Jesse Ventura did in Minnesota.
“What he proved to the whole world is the third party can win,” Thompson said.
Two representatives from the National Libertarian Party will assist Thompson starting Monday in fundraising activities, said Josh Morby, media director for the Thompson campaign.
The representatives and Thompson will travel statewide to universities, including here in Madison. However, no details to when were given regarding times and dates.
