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MADISON - Republican Mark Neumann
attempted to give his run for governor a reboot Wednesday, holding an
online news conference that he said sets the tone for a
technologically savvy campaign.
Neumann, a former two-term U.S.
congressman, stressed his experience in the private sector as giving
him the edge over rival Scott Walker. But it's Walker, the Milwaukee
County executive since 2002, who raised more than $1 million before
Neumann even entered the race in July.
Neumann said there was plenty of time
for him to raise enough cash to compete with Walker before the
September 2010 primary.
"We'll catch Scott," he said.
Neumann, who also is real estate
developer and home builder in the Milwaukee area, used his second
official campaign kickoff announcement to set the theme of this race
being between someone from the private sector against a career
politician.
"I am running for governor because
our state and nation were built by private citizens who entered public
service, but did not make it a lifelong career," Neumann said.
That's clearly a dig at Walker, 41, who
has spent most of his adult life in politics. He was elected to the
state Assembly in 1993 and served there until 2002 when he was elected
as county executive. He worked for three years as a fundraiser for the
Red Cross before being elected to the Legislature.
Neumann, 55, served in Congress between
1995 and 1999 and has been out of politics since he narrowly lost
against U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold in 1998.
"I honestly believe it's time that
we push back to someone from the private sector to lead the
state," Neumann said.
Walker didn't address Neumann's
comments in a statement his campaign released later in the day. Walker
said his focus was on having a discussion with voters.
Neumann said effectively using
technology, along with creativity and innovation, will allow for
streamlining government, reducing taxes and creating jobs. He said he
would cap state spending increases across the board at 1 percent below
the rate of inflation.
Asked his position on a handful of
specific issues, Neumann did not say whether he would support the
Menominee Nation locating an off-reservation casino in Kenosha. He
also said he did not believe it made economic sense to create a
commuter rail line connecting Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee, a move
that state and local Democratic leaders have been pushing for years.
Neumann also planned an online town
hall meeting Wednesday to discuss his candidacy. He had campaign stops
planned across the state including Waukesha, Green Bay, and Schofield.
The governor's race is wide open this
year for the first time since 1982. Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat,
announced last month he wouldn't seek a third term.
Walker and Neumann are the highest
profile Republican candidates who have announced their candidacies.
On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov.
Barbara Lawton has announced her intention to run. U.S. Rep. Ron Kind
from La Crosse, has been traveling the state and meeting with
Democratic insiders to explore a potential bid. Milwaukee Mayor Tom
Barrett also is considering a run.
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