Politico – Tommy Thompson to run for Senate in Wisconsin (maybe) – Update – Paul Ryan NOT running

posted at 7:45 am on May 17, 2011 by Steve Eggleston

Politico is reporting that former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson has been telling friends he will run for the Republican nomination for the suddenly-open Senate seat next year, and that he is merely waiting for the official announcement of non-candidacy from Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) to announce.

They also list as probable advisers former chief of staff (among other things) Bill McCoshen and Darrin Schmitz, a key campaign adviser to Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. I seem to remember McCoshen being on the aborted 2010 Thompson Senatorial campaign, which ended in an emotional speech at the 2010 Tax Day Tea Party.

On this morning’s show, WISN-AM’s Jay Weber mentioned a pair of items that suggest that this time, Thompson’s campaign is real – Thompson reportedly regrets not running against then-Senator Russ Feingold in 2010 despite polls that suggested that he would beat Feingold. Further, Republican Party of Wisconsin executive director Mark Jefferson reportedly told Thompson that if he were to run this time, he would need to really run, and announce early.

Revisions/extensions – National Journal is reporting Paul Ryan is not running for Senate. Ryan said on CNBC’s Sqawk Box that he would make the official announcement later today.

R&E part 2 – WTMJ-AM’s Charlie Sykes had a potential Thompson run as a topic on yesterday’s show (specifically hour 3 of the podcast). He mentioned that some of his sources said that his family was on board this time, the lack of which ultimately ended his flirtation with the 2010 race.

R&E part 3 – Ryan’s statement of non-candidacy from his campaign site:

“I am grateful for the tremendous outpouring of encouragement that I have received from my friends and supporters since Senator Kohl announced he would not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate. For my family and me, the most important factor in making this decision was determining where I could make the biggest difference. Our nation is quickly approaching a debt crisis that will do serious damage to Wisconsinites and all Americans if it is not properly addressed. I believe continuing to serve as Chairman of the House Budget Committee allows me to have a greater impact in averting this debt-fueled economic crisis than if I were to run for the United States Senate.

House Republicans have taken bold steps forward in tackling our fiscal and economic challenges – we have led, where others have not. I want to keep building on this progress and therefore, I will seek to continue serving my employers of Wisconsin’s First District as their Representative in the House.”

Recently in the Green Room:

• State Dept has no position on male-only election in Iran
• China’s hackers are back at it
• McAuliffe launches Women for Terry, forgets to buy domain name
• Dan Pfeiffer – Mr. Irrelevant
• IRS To Pro-Life Groups: You Know You’re Gonna Have To Give Up This Whole Protest Thing, Right?

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