No Doubt GOP Enjoying Messing With Democratic Primary Race

Even if right-wing money and talk radio can't save State Sen. Jeff Plale (D) from a defeat on Tuesday by a party insurgent, Milwaukee County Board Supervisor Chris Larson, the outside-the-party conservatives promoting Plale have to be enjoying the internal Democratic Party fight they are enabling.

The district in question includes conservative south suburban voters and the more liberal East side; the election is going to be very close, and the margin of victory could be 200 votes, or less.

With motivated voters casting ballots, I'd give the edge to Larson even though it means turning out an entrenched incumbent because of the backlash against Plale over his abandonment of legislation to create jobs through cleaner energy.

Issues don't get any closer than that to the soul of dedicated Democrats.

Larson had been repeatedly criticized on right-wing talk radio for a shop-lifting episode when he'd been a teenager, and for a disorderly conduct ticket in 2004 over a parking ticket that had led to the towing of his car.

The Journal Sentinel endorsed Plale in Saturday's edition, though on Friday, WisPolitics.com reported that Plale paid a fine in 2001 for disorderly conduct during an argument with his wife after which he admitting pushing her out of the door to their South Milwaukee home.

The couple later divorced, records show.