or as Sara Rodriguez would say, ‘3 or 67 problems — maybe 32!’
No matter who Democrats wind up nominating for governor, they’re already backed up against their own goal line against Republican Tom Tiffany. (If we can use an analogy from the real game of football. The one that has what we like to call “action” and “excitement.”)
If Tom Tiffany is smart (we think he is) he will keep some daylight between himself and the unpopular election conspiracist in the White House, who is all about Himself and No One Else. The Brad Schimel supreme court race proved MAGA hardliners vote only Trump.
In any event, Tiffany doesn’t need Trump — he’s got the Democrats. Looking like David Crowley, resurrected from the dead like Lazarus, will be the nominee. Endorsed by the sitting governor, which is a reasonably big get even if it is Tony Evers, one of the least impressive governors in recent memory. We would say you could expect a few more big name endorsements except that Democrats don’t really have any more big names. Tammy Baldwin will keep her powder dry until after the August 11 election. She’s shrewd that way. Does anyone want Jim Doyle’s endorsement?
As desperate as Democrats are to overturn Act 10, defund police, put men in the girls’ locker room and socialize groceries, only Francesca Hong excites the base — or even has “a base.” That’s the first problem. Which is why Tony Evers broke his pledge to remain neutral. The man isn’t Lee Atwater but he knows even Mitt Romney could strip the bark off the pro-Hamas Madison socialist. He knows Hong can’t win in November.
Milwaukee radio squawker Dan O’Donnell accuses Evers of “rigging” the race. We disagree: Evers was doing due diligence. The party did rig 2024 by anointing Kamala Harris after Joe Biden dropped out. But the other Democrats, thus spurned, will cry “rigged” (as Mandela Barnes does here). That’s the second problem.
In any event Democrats still have seven candidates still on the ballot, including two drop outs. That’s the third problem: Republicans are being encouraged to cause a little mischief by crossing party lines and voting Hong, thanks to Wisconsin’s open primary.
Taking a header
Hong taints the entire brand, as do the faux working stiffs like Graham Platner and hectoring harridans like Elizabeth Warren. So does the spectacular crash and burn of the party’s sitting lieutenant governor. For a couple hours, anyway, Sara Rodriguez was the front runner but she couldn’t count straight. That Democrats are in disarray is problem #4.
The Woke and the Weary will exult at the chance to vote the first black man for governor. Crowley probably has more executive experience than any of the candidates, including Tiffany, a legislator. But consider Problem #5: David Crowley was so weak he actually dropped out of the race earlier this month because he wasn’t getting any traction.
What’s more, Crowley brings his own baggage: Milwaukee County has the highest tax burden in the state — 7.9% sales tax compared to 5.5% in Dane County. It’s namesake city murders more residents, per capita, than Chicago. Its schools are failed; its students are functionally illiterate. Crowley will be reduced to pleading “Not My Fault.” Number #6: Not a winning message.
Problem the 7th: How many of Hong’s socialist purists are willing to vote the lesser evil? They’ll stay home if she loses.
The five active Democrats will rope-a-dope themselves over these last four weeks while Republicans are concentrating their fire on a party that doesn’t have a message except hating Donald Trump, putting government employee unions back in charge, and raising taxes. (Not one of the original seven pledged to hold the line.) That’s #8.
Number Nine, Number Nine, Number Nine: Every eight years this Century, the governor’s mansion in Wisconsin switches parties.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: If David Crowley can get back in the race, could Joel Brennan and Kelda Roys could do the same, so to speak?
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