Almost a year after leaving the Capitol, former Gov. Tommy Thompson remains a popular candidate for Wisconsin office.
An Oct. 19-25 WisPolitics.com and Wood Communications Group poll found more than 60 percent of Wisconsin voters would choose Thompson if he sought a U.S. Senate seat or the governorship.
One potential gubernatorial candidate in 2002, state Sen. Robert Welch, R-Redgranite, said he would withdraw from the Republican primary if Thompson emerged as a candidate.
\I'd be among the two-thirds supporting him,"" Welch said. ""I think he did a great job.""
UW-Madison political science Professor Don Kettl said the poll, as well as Welch's disinclination to challenge Thompson, reflects positively on the Health and Human Services secretary's popularity in the state.
""I think [the support shows] a pining for the old days and the public support Thompson had,"" Kettl said. ""He didn't win four elections as governor without being extraordinarily popular and it's clear that there's a lot of people around the state of Wisconsin who'd love to have him back.""
Rep. Steve Foti, R-Oconomowoc, said he did not think it likely Thompson would run for a fifth term as governor in 2002.
""Tommy is not going to come home to run,"" Foti said. ""I don't believe there's any speculation he would run.""
The poll restates Thompson's popularity in the state, he said.
""You have to remember Tommy hasn't been gone that long. I think the approval rating speaks to the fact that people still have a very fond memory of him,"" Foti said.
Kettl said he thinks Thompson more likely to pursue a Senate seat than the governor's office.
""It's conceivable he might think about running for the Senate eventually, but I think it's unlikely we'll see him running as governor again,"" Kettl said.
Megan Mooney, chair of the UW-Madison College Democrats, said the student organization's efforts for the Democratic Party would remain relatively unaffected if Thompson rejoined the Wisconsin political scene.
""I'm sure we'd have to do some adjusting, but I think that would all be taken into consideration whether or not he was running,"" Mooney said. ""I'm not sure that it would make much difference.""
Mooney said discontent with state policy or economics could feed speculation and hurt Thompson's heir, current Gov. Scott McCallum.
""I think there's always speculation,"" Mooney said. ""McCallum wasn't an elected official. A lot of people aren't happy with the way Wisconsin is going right now.""
She added that mixed feelings about McCallum may be causing voters and pollsters to watch Thompson more carefully.
""When there's not such a strong Republican candidate, or people feel like it's not a strong candidate, Republicans often look to what was strong for them,"" Mooney said.
Kettl said the national military campaign will play a factor in Thompson's future popularity.
""I think a lot of that depends on how the next stages of the war on terrorism happen. He's been subjected to criticism about how the biological attacks have been handled,"" he said. ""People could forget quickly if it's clear in the future the situation is more under control.\
