A Madison business owner, Republican Dave Redick, announced his run for the 2006 U.S. Senate earlier this month. Redick kicked off his fiscally modest campaign against Democratic financial heavyweight, Wisconsin incumbent Sen. Herb Kohl.
"I'm running a relatively low-budget campaign, and we're going to win on the issues, not on spending out hundreds of thousands of dollars like [Kohl] is," Redick said.
According to Redick, the issues that will win him the state's U.S. Senate seat this fall are federal spending and the Iraq war.
"I'm a Reagan conservative. I believe in minimum government [and] minimum taxing and spending," he said, adding his Republican roots honor states' rights and free markets.
Additionally, Redick called the Iraq war a debauched attempt to control oil and the Patriot Act an abuse of government power.
While Redick said he was "confident" about his Senate prospects, most Democratic Party backers — who are equally confident Kohl's Senate seat will be safe — are not expressing any worry.
"This year, Sen. Kohl's going to run a really vigorous campaign for reelection," Kohl spokesperson Phil Walzak said. "He's basically running a fierce campaign, taking nothing for granted, even though he is considered the favorite."
Redick, however, suggested Kohl's attitude is too relaxed, leaving Wisconsin in desperate need of a fresh face.
"I believe [Kohl is] semi-retired in the position and [is] treating it as an honorary position," Redick said, adding, "He's not rocking the boat. He's just enjoying his job and he's not getting anything done."
Conversely, Kohl's student supporters believe he is in fact accomplishing a great deal in the Senate, though quietly.
"[Kohl] is not somebody that begs for attention, but he's made such a difference and has done so much for the state," Brian Shactman, chair of UW College Democrats, said. "He's always on the front lines, bringing money in for medical programs, [and] he's been great for student aid."
But, according to Redick, Kohl has been rated as a big spender by the National Taxpayers Union, offering little to the American public besides his massive war chest.
Kohl backers counter that his personal wealth, though vast, does not overshadow his interests in addressing what matters.
"Sen. Kohl is never going to stray away from talking about the issues," Walzak said, referring to the work Kohl has done for education, health care and protecting civil liberties.
Kohl's war chest, supporters also say, should reassure — not worry — Wisconsin voters.
"When he says that he's nobody's senator but yours, he means it because there are no special interests in the world of Herb Kohl because he doesn't need them," Shactman said.
While Redick believes his stance on the issues will outweigh Kohl's money, other Republicans admit his severe lack of funds will prove a major factor in the upcoming fall Senate race.
"It's admittedly a tough race for us because Kohl is the incumbent and he has a lot of money," Republican Party of Wisconsin communications director Christine Mangi said. "It's hard to knock off an opponent like that."
The RPW seems to have little GOP ammunition with its two additional declared Senate contenders, Marc Gumz from Baraboo and Robert Lorge from Bear Creek — both candidates with limited funds and experience.
"I think any Republican who runs is going to face an uphill battle based on Kohl's name recognition and financial backing," Jordan Smith, chair of the University of Wisconsin College Republicans, said. "But I hope we can get a strong GOP message out with whatever U.S. Senate candidate we have."
Republicans continue to hope for a promising candidate to represent the party.
"We certainly encourage competition — that's a good thing. But at this point, we still haven't backed anyone," Mangi said, adding the RPW remains hopeful Tim Michels, the unsuccessful 2004 candidate against Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., will decide to run.
