Rep. Baldwin runs for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: USA Today

Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin declared she will run for the open U.S. Senate seat in Wisconsin, vowing to stand up for voters against special interests.

Baldwin's candidacy, announced in a video e-mailed to supporters overnight, has been widely expected as both parties vie to succeed retiring Democrat Herb Kohl. She was first elected to Congress in 1998.

If Baldwin wins what is expected to be one of the more competitive 2012 races, she would make history as the first openly gay person in the U.S. Senate.

In the video, Baldwin fashioned herself as a fighter of special interests in the tradition of Kohl and former senator Russ Feingold. "It's time politicians looked out for seniors, working families and the middle class - instead of protecting the profits of big oil and Wall Street," she said.

Read more: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/09/tammy-baldwin-wisconsin-senate-/1?csp=34news

[Scuba]

1. True Progressive. Go Tammy, Go. n/t

[bonniebgood]

2. In the video? where's the Video?

everytime the wingnuts baggers fart there's a video.

[CBHagman]

3. Exciting news!

Though I have no doubt that the 'cans and others will have the long knives out for her, I hope to see her triumph, especially given the acrimony that He Who Must Not Be Named has fomented.

[elocs]

4. I know here at DU we applaud having a true Progressive as a candidate,

I really hope that a Liberal candidate from Madison can win a statewide election here, but I have serious doubts.

I can remember my first presidential vote and how happy I was to be able to vote for George McGovern who was Democratically right on all the issues. After that I realized that the point of having a candidate is having one who actually has a good chance of winning the votes of people who are independents and not solid Democrats.

But we can be gloriously happy, at least until after the election in November of 2012.

[wuushew]

5. I actually don't think this is a good idea

Wisconsin is much redder than it is sometimes mythologized. I am really not looking forward to losing my excellent Congresswoman for a long shot Senate bid.

[Yon_Yonson]

6. I am biting my lower lip because I am unsure of this political move

But if this is her decision then she has my vote

[mysuzuki2]

7. I think I agree with you. Don't get me wrong, Tammy is excellent

and I'd love to see her in the senate. But I'm sceptical she could win a state-wide senate race. I would hate to see her replaced in congress by a Walker appointee and have her lose to Mark Neumann.

[Viking12]

12. there will be a concurrent House election in 2012

Walker won't get to appoint anyone. I'm sure a reliable Dem will win here seat.

[mysuzuki2]

13. that's good news. Can she still keep her seat while she's

running for the senate?

[elocs]

11. Yes, I think it is a long shot as well. She will certainly win in Madison

and possibly here in La Crosse as well, but I still contend that the point in having a candidate is to have one who can actually win. I don't think she will do well in much of the rest of the state. I'm not looking forward to having 2 Republican senators representing Wisconsin.

You are exactly right that Wisconsin is really more red than it is sometimes mythologized. Sometimes it is nice to pretend that more people are really like us than there actually are.

[SoapBox]

8. Go Tammy Go! NOW, it's time for other Dems/Libs/Progressives to step up

and replace these Terrorist GOPBaggers.

[murielm99]

9. This is not a good idea.

My family in Madison told me last week that she would be announcing. She has a seat for life as a rep. Liberal Madison loves her, but the rest of the state may not feel that way. They need a Democratic candidate who can win a statewide race. The state Democrats should have found a realistic candidate.

Now she will lose her election, and the seat she has? She is needed where she is.

[KamaAina]

10. Campaign drinking game

Every time the repuke says "traditional family values", or some other homophobic dog-whistle, you have to drink a beer. (it's WI, after all :beer: )

If a Dem primary opponent does it, you have to finish the case.

[undeterred]

14. Go Tammy!

She is the kind of Senator Wisconsin and the rest of the country needs right now.

[Evasporque]

15. I will vote for Tammy...

Republicans in Wisconsin are insane and they have taken much of the state with them.

Tammy is a great Wisconsin Progressive and I support her 100%.

[Yon_Yonson]

16. Tammy Baldwin’s Strong Opener for Senate

The Progressive
Tammy Baldwin’s Strong Opener for Senate
By Matthew Rothschild, September 6, 2011h

Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin appealed to her progressive base as she announced her Senate candidacy on Monday to take the seat of retiring Senator Herb Kohl.

She released a video entitled “A Progressive Fighter for Wisconsin,” and she made a direct and substantive pitch.

Looking straight in the camera with a beautiful view of a Wisconsin lake behind her, she said she was running “to stand up for you, not matter how tough the odds or how powerful the special interests.”

She railed against Big Oil and Wall Street.

http://www.progressive.org/tammy_baldwin_senate.html