Leinenkugel withdraws from U.S. Senate race
Richard "Dick" Leinenkugel withdrew from Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race today.
Leinenkugel announced at the Wisconsin Republican Party Convention in Milwaukee that he is shutting down his campaign for the GOP nomination in the race.
“We must restore conservative values to Washington, D.C., to bring jobs back to Wisconsin by unleashing the power of small business and entrepreneurs through lower taxes and reduced regulation, to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with true healthcare reform that lowers costs, improves access, and ensures personal freedom of choice,” Leinenkugel said. “And today, I ask that this convention endorse Ron Johnson as our Republican candidate to carry that message against Russ Feingold in November."
Leinenkugel's withdrawal leaves Johnson (of Oshkosh), Watertown business owner Dave Westlake and Madison real estate developer Terrence Wall in the race.
"This is the right thing to do, for me, my family, my state and my country," Leinenkugel said. "Spending millions on a divisive primary campaign only serves to give an advantage to Russ Feingold. This must be Russ’s last summer as a U.S. Senator."
Johnson had a strong showing in the first round of balloting for the official GOP endorsement today, capturing 51.6 percent. Wall came in second place with 23.6 percent. Both will proceed to a second round of balloting.
Westlake captured 15.1 percent. Leinenkugel received 0.5 percent. No endorsement was backed by 9.1 percent.
Candidates must capture 60 percent of the vote to win the endorsement
Some Republicans criticized Leinenkugel because he agreed to serve as the secretary of Wisconsin Department of Commerce for Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle.
James - you seemed to have been the only one who took Doylekugel's candidacy seriously.
ReplyDeleteYou were even upset that he was running, as if it was some kind of betrayal to Diamond Jim Doyle and the Democratic party.
All the time the rest of us were rolling our collective eyes and laughing at why poor old Dick thought he had any chance.
We all know how touchy you are about anyone running against Feingold, did you know there a new candidate named Ron Johnson?
And no he is not another tweedle-dee, tweedle-dum, or tweedle-dem - seeing as Mr. Johnson announced his candidacy a week ago and won the state Republican endorsement yesterday, only 6 days later.