What This Evening Means

As the most "Pro-Green" of us here, I'll start by saying I'm as in shock as you are. I had heard rumblings of this happening as early as January, but I had hoped they weren't true. I'll post my thoughts tomorrow morning at my blog - and news and photos as well.

But Hotline, the Sports Illustrated of Politics, puts Walker drop-out news as it's "Last Call" for the evening.

Post Entitled: "Big Break for the GOP in Wisconsin"

One of the two major candidates for the WI GOV GOP nod has decided to drop out, giving the GOP a much clearer shot at a vulnerable Dem Gov. Jim Doyle.

Milwaukee Co. Exec. Scott Walker (R), a GOPer whom Karl Rove had identified a few years ago as a rising star, has decided to drop out leaving GOP Rep. Mark Green (R-08-Green Bay) as the de facto nominee.

From the AP clip on Walker's announcement (byline: Todd Richmond)

Walker "said he failed to raise as much money as he wanted by the end of March.

Walker said he had enough cash to run in only a fraction of the state's counties, and he probably would have spent most it attacking Green before the two faced off in the GOP primary in September. Walker and Green served together in the state Assembly in the 1990s, and Walker said the idea of attacking his friend was "unappealing."

Even if he survived the primary, he would have faced an enormous challenge going against Doyle in the November general election, he said.

According to campaign finance reports filed in January, Walker had about $563,000 in the bank. Doyle had $4.2 million and Green had $2.1 million.

The big benefit for the GOP is that there now won't be a primary where the two GOPers have to prove their conservative credentials. Doyle was already someone we and others considered vulnerable; this news only reinforces that outlook.

At the Sheboygan County Lincoln Day Dinner, Walker understandably was a no show. Green's speech wasn't about himself, wasn't about how he wants to shape Wisconsin, or Jim Doyle. It was about Scott, and how humble he felt after Scott saw he needed to do what he did.

Yes, all of us had our favorites in this race, but we have to realize, that the two of these men didn't see themselves as rivals, they saw themselves as brothers. Scott needs to be commended for doing what he did now, instead of dragging all of us through the hell of a primary fight.

He had the wisdom to see that the only way we got four more years of Doyle was a GOP blood-letting.

If you must, take the weekend to pout, mope, and throw a hissy fit, because after that the slime is coming. And we all must remember the key here: THE GOAL IS DOYLE.

Today was another day Jim Doyle didn't want to see happen. The State GOP will now unite under one banner behind Mark Green.