WI-Gov: Race to the bottom

Craig Gilbert picks up on something I noted months ago, that Mark Green will have a hard time in the Wisconsin governor's race because--as a Republican member of the House--voters are dissatisfied with the way things are going:

But that restive mood also could complicate Green's own path to higher office. That's because Green is a sitting congressman whose party governs the country amid flagging political fortunes.

In the same Wisconsin poll, the public was even more negative about the direction of the nation than the state.

That poses challenges for Doyle and Green both, said Jim Miller, head of the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, the conservative-leaning think tank that conducted the statewide poll.

"You may be having a race here: Who do the voters really dislike the most, D.C. or Madison?" Miller said.

Political analysts caution that national factors are often secondary in contests for state office. And with the election a year away, public sentiment could change.

But if the president and Congress remain unpopular, it is clear the Democrats' battle plan against Green would be to use voters' unhappiness with Washington against him. Green, who represents Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District surrounding Green Bay, is one of two Republicans hoping to oppose Doyle; the other is Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker. Green and Walker face off in a highly competitive primary next September.

There are enough people on the internet who can tell you why you shouldn't vote for Doyle. Mark Green's association with Bush and his refusal to return more than $30,000 of money from Tom DeLay that he transferred to his campaign for Governor should tell you where his campaign is going. Add to it Scott Walker's insistence on crapping where he eats, and we may have a race to the bottom next year. What fun!