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4/19/2007
Steve Kagen, MD - this man is EVERYWHERE
GOP, be aware! And, BEWARE, as well. Our 8th District Congressman knows that if he can be re-elected in 2008, he will have dodged a major bullet, and will have the strength of the incumbency for decades to come. So, if re-elected in 2008, Rep. Kagen will most likely coast to election in 2010 and beyond, and will need spend comparatively little time dialing for dollars from then on out. (See Congressman Petri…)
News articles this week showed us Dr. Kagen raised $155,000 the first three months of this year (making it $167,000 on hand). There are all kinds of ways to look at that. It’s the second highest 1st quarter total among Wisconsin representatives, 2nd only to Rep. Obey. (That makes sense –Obey’s chairmanship is an easy magnet for cash.) Note though, that Kagen’s cash position puts him almost at the bottom of the Wisconsin scene, with “only” $167,116 cash on hand. (Gwen Moore has a paltry $74,283, Paul Ryan a sky-high $1.2M)
Dan Suhr of GOP3.com calls the Kagen numbers “pretty pathetic.” He quotes a Roll Call article that according to the Dem’s, Kagen is near the bottom of the 29 “Frontline” candidates they’re preparing for 2008. Still one more – I took a quick look at Karl Rove’s “Top 20” House targets for 2008. Those guys and gals raised, on average, close to $300k in their first quarters.
So, some might say the fundraising might not be going all that well. Perhaps the GOP could sit back and relax a little, maybe rest on their laurels a bit? No way.
Lots of reasons for sitting up and paying attention. First among them is that Dr. Kagen is self-financed. The second is the spirit in the Democratic party these days. In an interview with WisPolitics, state party Executive Director Mike Murphy said they are ready, make no mistake.
“The anger just sort of gets you going. But now we can do it. We can beat the Republicans. We can win elections…. We’re in the right position to actually change the country now that we’ve started to take it back is what’s going to sustain the energy.”
Ok. That’s well and good. But to me, the center of the argument is Dr. Kagen’s Energizer Bunny activity since his election.
What did you do on your Easter vacation?
This man is everywhere! Here’s the kind of stuff he did while the House was on a short break last week:
Last Saturday, Dr. Kagen joined Toby Kufahl as both began Toby’s 150 mile walk to raise $150,000 for a 10 year-old battling leukemia. Huge amounts of press.
Last Friday, he visited a hospital in Marinette, met with Marinette business leaders, made a cameo appearance at the Logging & Timber Industry Conference in Iron Mountain and while there, visited the VA hospital. Whew! At the same time, Kagen’s office released a statement supporting shipbuilders in Marinette.
Last Thursday, Kagen did a “UPS ride-along” in Green Bay, even wearing that good old brown UPS uniform while helping deliver packages to downtown businesses. The ride-along was preceded by a “meet and greet” with drivers. Good. Then a grant award presentation in Suamico joined by lots of conservation and sportsmen types. Then after that, a luncheon speech to the Green Bay Port Symposium.
Last Wednesday, the Congressman was in Appleton presenting a Purple Heart (reportedly on behalf of Congressman Tom Petri) to the 8th grade great-grandson of a WW I veteran. Now that was a big press event. After the Purple Heart affair, Kagen traveled to a nearby elementary program to visit a family literacy program.
The previous Saturday, as he often does, Dr. Kagen held “Congress on your Corner” office hours at retail locations in Wrightstown, DePere and Green Bay. In days prior, he received lots of press for his listening session with farmers and talked to more veterans groups.
I could go on…. But I hope the GOP gets the message….
COMMENTS
And So???? the congressman is shaking hands, kissing babies, and raising money ... its what politicians do. If he was a Republican you would be praising him for interacting with the people of his district. Get over it!
Yours is exactly the point. Rep. Kagen is doing a good job in working to connect with the people and the movers and shakers in his district. Yes, I would much prefer to have a Republican vote coming from my district. And yes, I would urge again that Republicans must stay moving, must keep their eye on the target in this district. JE
(Thu Apr 19 07:34:53 2007)
I saw the same thing and I witnessed Dr. Steve at a basketball game at Appleton East High School working the crowd as they filed in for the game between Appleton East and Kimberly. He was doing such a good job that I almost barffed. The GOP had better get moving NOW. The GOP loss in our district was not a freak accident but, I believe, the result of a poor candidate with too much garbage and the state GOP trying to run our district from Madison.
Richard H. Griesser (Thu Apr 19 07:55:11 2007)
Energizer bunny? You should have been along with Tommy Thompson when he took state government to Superior in 1987. Tommy was everywhere. A sailboat ride from Barker's Island, a reception for the northern Wisconsin bar association at Fairlawn Mansion, a bus tour of downtown Superior, a visit to the Bad River Indian Reservation and a tour of Big Bay State Park on Madeleine Island, which in honor of Tommy's visit that year set a still-unbroken record for the cleanest men's room in any state park in the country. And that's only the most memorable items on his itinerary that week. Other weeks during Tommy's terms as governor were only slightly less hectic. That was 20 years ago, and Tommy Thompson is still going like the Energizer Bunny. Tommy Thompson set the gold standard for frenetic activity by an elected official in Wisconsin, and now we're exporting him to Iowa. Iowans, beware.
Rich Eggleston (Thu Apr 19 16:26:30 2007)
Yes, Tommy Thompson did all that and more. His face was in the newspapers and TV constantly.
Remember, he was governor for 16 years. I think that's what Jo's getting at.
Kagen could do the same thing.
C.R. Stevenson (Wed Apr 25 10:54:11 2007)
Interesting to hear that Rep. Kagen is being so visible. I would have thought that after his White House shenanigans he would be laying low--and vulnerable when he ran again in 2008. I guess he's going on the offensive though (perhaps because he realizes how vulnerable he is). What does the list of Republican challengers look like at the moment? Could we get Mark Green to run again? If not him, I suggest Steve Wieckert. He's a top-notch assemblymen and has a lot of fans in the Appleton area. While I like John Gard a lot, but I think he had his chance and we need to find someone else to run for the GOP the next time around. What about you Jo, would you be interested in running? -The Appletonian (http://appletonian.blogspot.com)
Justin, how great to hear from you from afar! Green, Gard, Wieckert. All on someone's list. I think all are pondering a run. Need to confirm that one or more is at least setting the needed broad and strong foundation.. JE
The Appletonian (Thu Apr 26 16:49:51 2007)
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