Citing a lack of campaign cash, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker announced his decision to drop out of the Republican gubernatorial race on March 24.
Walker's camp failed to reach a minimum fundraising goal set for the end of March, according to a press statement. Walker said he did not want to continue to fund a campaign unable to successfully reach voters in all 72 counties in the state.
The clear consensus for a while was that the [Republican] nominee was going to be Mark Green,\ said Brian Shactman, chair of UW-Madison College Democrats. ""But I'm surprised he fundraised as little as he did and that he didn't make it past the month of March.""
Walker said he endorsed U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Green Bay, to ensure Gov. Jim Doyle's defeat. ""In the end, I love this state too much to see Jim Doyle elected to another term,"" Walker said. ""This decision is made with the best interests of Wisconsin in mind.""
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin alleged in a press statement that Walker's announcement and the visit of Ken Mehlmen, one of President Bush's top lieutenants, were not coincidental.
""It is clear that the long arm of the White House is at work here, and that George Bush has handpicked one of his most reliable allies in Congress to rubberstamp his agenda in Wisconsin,"" Joe Wineke, chairperson of the DPW said.
State Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said the Republican Party wanted Walker out of the race and was always ""clearly lined up behind Green.""
Jordan Smith, chairperson of the UW-Madison College Republicans, said Walker's announcement will prevent Republicans from being divided between the two camps and increase Republican potential to defeat Doyle this November.
""Instead of Republicans basically spending their time, energy and volunteers on going against each other in September, we can focus all of our resources on Doyle now,"" Smith said.
However, Black said not having a primary could hurt Green's campaign. Black said Mark Green needed the publicity the primary in September would have provided him because ""he's not known to most of the state outside his congressional district.""
Shactman said the next four months leading up to the primary would have been dominated by the Republican Party. Instead, Shactman said Doyle and Green can focus on contrasting their positions, which he said he believes will result in Doyle's favor.
""Now the Wisconsin people can start seeing the kind of extremist voting record of Mark Green,"" Shactman said.
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