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In Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District,
it'll be the same old matchup. In the 2nd, it could be an explosive
showdown.
Ron Greer, who taunted Rep. Tammy
Baldwin, D-Madison, as a "left-wing lesbian" in the 2nd
District's 1998 GOP primary, never got a chance to go one-on-one with
her in the general election.
But with Tuesday's resounding primary
victory over Phil Alfonsi, he will.
Meanwhile, in the 1st District, retired
orthopedic surgeon Jeffrey C. Thomas will take on Rep. Paul Ryan,
R-Janesville, after winning the Democratic primary Tuesday. In 2000,
Ryan beat Thomas by a roughly 2-to-1 margin.
Rep. Jerry Kleczka, D-Milwaukee, the only
Wisconsin incumbent congressman to face a primary challenge this year,
defeated Nathaniel J. Stampley in the 4th District Democratic primary,
72 percent to 28 percent. Kleczka faces no Republican challenger in
November.
Greer, a black minister, beat Alfonsi
with 61 percent of the vote.
Baldwin is seeking a third term in the
2nd District, which is in south-central Wisconsin.
"This reaffirms what I learned over
20 years in talking to people in the district," Greer said late
Tuesday night. "One thing you find out is that people want you to
speak straight to them, and take a stand."
Greer said he would not make an issue of
Baldwin's sexual orientation, unless it affects her policy positions.
Baldwin said she was looking forward to a
race based on issues, such as Social Security and prescription drug
coverage for seniors.
"If my opponent fails to address
these issues, it's to his own detriment," she said Tuesday night.
Alfonsi, a real estate business owner,
called the outcome "a slaughter."
"I think Ron connected with the
voters well," he said. "He had charisma."
Thomas won his race even more handily,
defeating Moore 65 percent to 35 percent.
Thomas, who has pushed for
government-provided health coverage, said he believes the issue will
resonate more now than it did two years ago.
"This is really what people
want," he said.
Thomas had no campaign Web site and
virtually no campaign but said he would elevate his profile in the
general election. The 1st District is in southeastern Wisconsin.
Ryan, who is seeking his third term, said
that he would also stress health care. But he said he will introduce
legislation that would provide tax credits so affordable health
insurance is available to all.
"I do want to talk quite a bit on
health care, and the affordability of health insurance," he said.
Moore, a retired flight attendant,
alleged that Republican voters helped elect Thomas with crossover votes.
"The Republicans nominated Jeff
Thomas to run against Paul Ryan today," he claimed, "because
they knew there was not one chance in the world of him beating Paul
Ryan." Moore said he was "tearing up" his membership in
the Democratic Party.
Kleczka said he was pleased to do well in
a reshaped district after reapportionment based on results of the 2000
census.
"Fifty percent of the district's
new, so we spent a lot of time meeting with people in the north and
central part of the city," Kleczka said. "The response has
been excellent. The final result reflected the effort of not only myself
but hundreds of volunteers."
Kleczka, seeking his 11th term, goes
against Green Party candidate Brian Verdin in November.
Stampley, a former Milwaukee county
supervisor, did not return a phone message Tuesday night.
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