MCCALLUM A PATIENT AND COMPETENT LEADER

By Rep. Scott Walker

After reading a recent article that raised concerns about the political
abilities of our Gov. Scott McCallum and his staff, it became clear that
I should share some political history with the public.

Looking back in time, it is hard to believe that Bill Clinton could have
lost the 1996 election. No, I am not going to suggest that Bob Dole could
have won that race if only the real Bob Dole had show up - the race was over
long before Bob Dole got the nomination. In 1994, however, the weak response
from the public to the Clinton health plan helped Republicans take control
of the House and the Senate, and Clinton's odds for re-election were a real
concern in the White House.

Taking matters into its own hands, Clinton's team used the DNC (Democratic
National Committee) as a fundraising tool and then used those funds to put
ad after ad up the air. The result: Clinton's approval ratings grew by the
month and by the time the Republicans got serious about a primary, the
Democrats' nominee was way out front.

Of course, it didn't hurt that the Dole campaign also spent every last cent
to crawl through the primary season. They were so short on cash that the
Kemp campaign (remember, Jack Kemp was the nominee for vice president)
actually had to buy the Dole/Kemp signs at the national convention.

So what does this have to do with Wisconsin?

While Gov. Scott McCallum does not have any of the baggage (personal or
policy) of a Bill Clinton, his strategy comes right out of the Clinton play
book. Currently, the RPW (Republican Party of Wisconsin) is running radio
spots all over the state with the governor touting the budget, our
response to the terrorist attacks and - soon - his vision for the state.
Like the former president, there are some lawmakers who are upset with the
governor not following their every command. But none of these items are
issues that shake up party activists (which someone would need to force a
real primary challenge) - nor the general public for that matter. Any real
talk of dissent seems to float only around a few offices in the state
Capitol, but not on the main streets, front yards or work shops across the
state. Come Election Day, those are the areas that can not be taken for
granted to win.

In contrast, the Democrats are falling all over themselves with talk that
they have a lock on the 2002 election. Their list of candidates, however,
suggests a less-than-certain outcome.

Democratic frontrunner Jim Doyle has been waiting since 1990 for Thompson to
leave office. In fact, his campaign seems to be centered on the awe-
inspiring theme of "I'm the top Democrat in the state, and it's my turn now
that Tommy is gone."

On the surface, the most appealing Democrat is Congressman Tom Barrett.
Still, his reason for running seems to be that his seat will be gone in
2002. Plus, Barrett's personal appeal could wear thin if voters are exposed
to his highly liberal voting record in Congress.

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk is hoping for a Feingold-like victory in
the primary. There is, however, one major roadblock. She is unknown and
underfunded while Feingold had campaigned for five years and raised a
substantial amount of cash before his 1992 victory.

Finally, state Senator Gary George is running because...well, maybe you'd
better ask him yourself.

Come next September, Doyle and Barrett will see most of the millions they
raised being spent on ads to win the primary. In addition, the race stands
to be an ugly brawl between the two contenders. Once the middle of September
arrives, the last Democrat standing will have little time to raise the money
needed to make the case to voters that they should remove the current
governor.

True, Scott McCallum is no Tommy Thompson, but after 14 years that may be
exactly what Republicans need to keep hold of the East Wing. Voters across
the state are still learning about their new governor, but their approval of
him has grown on a slow, but steady pace.

During the next year the governor and his campaign team will continue
to push the message of a patient and competent leader. Sure, there are some
who underestimate his strength, but the same could be said for George W.
Bush's opponents in the 2000 primaries, the general election and throughout
the world after the election. History has shown that underestimating such an
opponent is unwise.

--Scott Walker is a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from Wauwatosa.