RELOCATED FROM ALTHOUSE2: With Kohl out, who wants to be the junior senator from Wisconsin?

There's:

Reps. Ron Kind, Tammy Baldwin and Steve Kagen as well as former Sen. Russ Feingold and former Rep. Tom Barrett, who ran [for Governor and] lost to Walker last November, are mentioned....

For Republicans, the obvious name is Rep. Paul Ryan, the architect of House Republicans’ controversial budget plan. It’s not clear whether Ryan wants to leave his perch as chairman of the House Budget Commtitee to make a statewide run, however.

Other GOP names being mentioned include state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, wealthy businessman Tim Michels and former Rep. Mark Neumann.

Interesting!

ADDED: WaPo's Greg Sargent opines:

But the key is that a lot has happened in Wisconsin since Feingold’s loss. The months long war in the state over Scott Walker’s effort to strip public employees of their bargaining rights has galvanized the Democratic Party in Wisconsin in a major way and — if polls showing the unpopularity of Walker’s proposals are any guide — has tilted independents and moderates in the state against GOP rule. It’s true that this battle has galvanized the grassroots on both sides, but the emerging shape of the recall elections suggest the left has more momentum and energy.

A lot has happened... including the big Prosser-Kloppenburg race, which Sargent doesn't seem to have heard of.

COMMENTS (Relocated):

Don't Tread 2012 said...
I don't think Ryan would make such a change. Not now.

MAY 13, 2011 1:42:00 PM CDT 
 reader_iam said...
This will be interesting to watch.

MAY 13, 2011 1:53:00 PM CDT 
 Sofa King said...
I also think Ryan is loathe to give up his extremely influential position right now.

MAY 13, 2011 2:01:00 PM CDT 
 G Joubert said...
A lot has happened... including the big Prosser-Kloppenburg race, which Sargent doesn't seem to have heard of.

He's probably heard it but, you see, it doesn't fit the narrative he wants to suggest.

MAY 13, 2011 2:30:00 PM CDT 
 Jess said...
Well......

I didn't really want to move back to Wisconsin, but if the public demands it of me, I guess I would listen to a "Draft Jess" movement. ;)

MAY 13, 2011 2:55:00 PM CDT 
 Richard Dolan said...
What will happen in an election 18 months frmo now, in which no one even knows who will be on the ballot (either at the top, on the president line, or down below), it all seems too premature to bother with. What the politicos can do is work on the ground game -- the fundraising, the fence-mending with party pooh-bahs, and all the rest of the fun stuff that goes with running for office -- and let the rest take care of itself for now. If Sargent had any information about that, it might have made for a story worth reading. But he doesn't, and it isn't.

MAY 13, 2011 3:42:00 PM CDT 
 Original Mike said...
Tammy Baldwin? Yikes!

MAY 13, 2011 4:13:00 PM CDT 
 AllenS said...
Greg Sargent, Journolist member. Known liar.

MAY 13, 2011 4:48:00 PM CDT 
 vnjagvet said...
It’s true that this battle has galvanized the grassroots on both sides, but the emerging shape of the recall elections suggest the left has more momentum and energy.

What is the emerging shape of the recall elections that gives the left more momentum and energy? I suggest he doesn't say because he doesn't know.

MAY 13, 2011 5:08:00 PM CDT 
 Michael Haz said...
Here's the rundown.

DEMOCRATS:
Tammy Baldwin will not run. Being a lesbian progressive does not sell well outside of Dane County.

Other Dem Congressmen will not run - lack of statewide name recognition and campaign-able accomplishments.

Jim Doyle - maybe. He's already been asked to run by been a few insiders. If he wins, he's a junior senator in what could become the minority party. If he loses, his value as a rainmaker drops sharply. He's vulnerable on the $#bn deficit he left behind. Plus, he's making more now than he ever did in politics.

Russ Feingold - probably. He's horny for the job, wants to get back to DC. He could draw huge DC and union campaign money if he runs. He could lose to a strong Republican, though, and that possibility could keep him out of the campaign.

REPUBLICANS
Paul Ryan won't run. He has a lot of power where he is now, and wants to keep himself available to be a VP nominee. It's a better scenario for him.

Mark Neumann and his wife Sue *insider joke* will run. He's a moth to that flame.

David Westlake - will run and nobody will care.

Tommy Thompson. Sigh. He'll make a big show of talking about it, then who knows?

JB Van Hollen - maybe. He has okay name recognition, and a decent record as AG to run on. Decent stump speaker.

One of the Fitzgerald Bros - probably the one in the state senate will take a bit at it. Fund raising will be a problem.

Other - The state is being scoured now for Ron Johnson types who could mount a credible campaign. Of these, I'd bet on Tim Michels emerging as a front runner, if he wants to move from running his family's massive construction company. That's a big if, though.

As I see it, the most probable scenario is Neumann vs Fiengold.

MAY 13, 2011 5:16:00 PM CDT 
 Michael Haz said...
A name I forgot to mention - WI Sec of State Doug LaFollette. His willingness to not publish the Budget Repair Bill won him Progressive credentials, and the money would flow to him.

MAY 13, 2011 5:22:00 PM CDT 
 Drew said...
. . . if polls showing the unpopularity of Walker’s proposals are any guide — has tilted independents and moderates in the state against GOP rule.

Yeah, because those oh-so-accurate Daily Kos polls were supposed to mean that Kloppenburg would have an easy win.

MAY 13, 2011 5:27:00 PM CDT 
 Drew said...
Greg Sargent, Journolist member. Known liar.

Ah, right. That settles it.

MAY 13, 2011 5:28:00 PM CDT 
 caseym54 said...
Maybe Kloppenburg could run.

MAY 13, 2011 5:35:00 PM CDT 
 PaulV said...
Kohl saw hand writing on the wall. Typical plutocrat democrat Senator. Is voter ID the reason?

MAY 13, 2011 5:41:00 PM CDT 
 shiloh said...
The next couple years may not be a good time for a Rep to run in WI or anywhere.

solo estoy diciendo

Again, (29) million Obama voters stayed home last Nov. as all fame is fleeting ...

MAY 13, 2011 5:42:00 PM CDT 
 paminwi said...
Tammy Baldwin - dear god what is this wrold coming to when people think she could be a viable candidate. And no, it is NOT because she is a lesbian! Have we not heard for YEARS in her district how her main issue was healthcare? Did you see her ANYWHERE near the healthcare discussions? There were what, 35 people around that table when Obama said I get to talk the most because I AM THE PRESIDENT? Where was Tammy baby? No where to be found! Please. make her see the light and spare us all her possible candidacy for Senate.

MAY 13, 2011 7:26:00 PM CDT