Johnson likes some elements of ‘Pledge to America’
– Read in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel –
It was not a full endorsement, but U.S. Senate candidate Ron Johnson said Thursday morning that there were some elements of the Republican Party’s proposed “Pledge to America” that he liked.
Johnson, making an appearance on Fox News, was asked about the GOP’s new manifesto, details of which are expected to be formally released later Thursday. The pledge calls for, among other things, repealing the health-care law, cutting taxes, reducing federal spending and putting a ban on federal funding of abortions, among other things.
Asked if he had reviewed the pledge and whether he supported it, Johnson said he had reviewed it.
Johnson said the GOP plan hit on a lot of topics that he said he had been bringing up in the campaign. He mentioned specifically issues such as putting a cap on spending and repealing the health-care law.
“A lot of the elements I certainly agree with,” Johnson said.
The Republican challenger to U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) added that Washington needed to find a way to create an attractive environment for businesses in order to create jobs and help the economy recover.
In his appearance, Johnson also stuck to the main themes of his campaign: cut spending and reduce the national debt and repealing the health-care law.
Johnson also was asked about the industrial revenue bonds his company, Pacur, had received. Johnson defended the $4 million in bonds, saying there were not loans from the government. He said thousands of companies take advantage of the bonds, adding that there was no taxpayer money involved.
“It’s not a government loan at all,” Johnson said.
In 1979, a company that months later would morph into Pacur got a $75,000 federal grant to build a rail line to the new plant. Johnson says he was not part of the company when the grant was approved, but helped get the firm off the ground months later. More coverage of that issue can be found here.
In 1983 and 1985, Pacur received a total of $4 million in low-interest loans through the government program that offers industrial revenue bonds. The savings from reduced-rate loans of that size would save the borrower hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to the state Department of Commerce.
For more information on that issue, go here.
calendarCNN/Time Poll: Johnson 51, Feingold 45
[Oshkosh, WI] Today, CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation released a new poll showing Ron Johnson holding a strong lead against incumbent Senator Russ Feingold. This is the third poll released this week showing Johnson with more than 50 percent support. Upon the release of the latest poll, Ron Johnson for Senate Campaign Manager Juston Johnson issued the following statement:
“Word is getting out that Ron is the only candidate in this race that is willing to tackle the ‘business as usual’ political ruling class in Washington that has created the monstrous spending and debt cycle that has put our economy in jeopardy. By a 51-45 percent margin, Wisconsin voters trust 31-year manufacturer and job creator Ron Johnson over 30-year career politician Russ Feingold to begin to address our nation’s pressing fiscal issues.”
The poll, conducted between September 17 to September 21, showed Johnson leading among likely voters with 51 percent of the vote and Feingold at 45 percent.
calendarNational Federation of Independent Business Endorse Ron Johnson For U.S. Senate
[Oshkosh, WI] Yesterday, Oshkosh manufacturer and U.S. Senate Candidate Ron Johnson received an endorsement from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). Upon receiving the endorsement, Johnson issued the following statement:
“I truly appreciate the endorsement of the National Federation of Independent Business. As a small businessperson myself, I understand the important work NFIB does in representing the interests of small business, which are crucial to a vibrant economy. Small businesses are the engine for economic growth, and we need to support these businesses by limiting the size of government, reducing federal spending and debt, not increasing taxes, and creating a stable environment for job creation.”
The below release was issued yesterday from the NFIB:
calendarFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Melissa Sharp, 202-314-2068
Small Business Endorses Ron Johnson for Congress
Key voting bloc knows Johnson as “one of their own”
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 21, 2010 — Today the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), America’s leading small business association , announced its full support and endorsement of Ron Johnson for election to the U.S. Senate from Wisconsin.“Ron Johnson is a small business owner and NFIB member, which makes this endorsement especially meaningful,” said Lisa Goeas, NFIB’s vice president for political operations. “Our small business membership knows that Ron is one of their own, which means they are even more likely to actively support his candidacy by encouraging their employees, friends and family members to turn out and vote for him on election day.”
“Ron was inspired to run against incumbent Senator Russ Feingold when Feingold voted for the healthcare bill last year,” Goeas pointed out. “He is a vocal advocate against the law, as is NFIB. We believe that Ron’s perspective as a business owner will help the U.S. Senate develop policies that let small business do what it does best, which is create jobs and grow the economy.”
There are over 115,000 small employers in Wisconsin. Nationally, small businesses create more than half of the nation’s non-farm Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and have created more than 60 percent of net new jobs in the U.S. over the past 15 years.
Today’s endorsement comes from NFIB’s Save America’s Free Enterprise Trust, the association’s political action committee, and is based on candidates’ positions on key small business issues including healthcare, taxes and labor and regulatory issues.
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NFIB is the nation’s leading small business association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 states. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists sends their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system. NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. More information about NFIB is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom.
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New Poll Shows Johnson With 11 Point Lead Over Feingold
WI-Sen/WI-Gov: Dems hurting with six weeks to go
Daily Kos
Steve Singiser
September 21, 2010
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/9/21/903715/-WI-Sen-WI-Gov:-Dems-hurting-with-six-weeks-to-go
Public Policy Polling for Daily Kos. U.S. Senate. 9/18-9/19. Likely Voters. MoE 3.8% (6/27 results)
Ron Johnson (R) 52 (43)
Sen. Russ Feingold (D) 41 (45)
An enormous enthusiasm gap, coupled with a Republican nominee fresh from a decisive primary win and unsullied by the primary process, has catapulted Republican nominee Ron Johnson to a double-digit advantage over incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold, according to PPP’s poll of the state on behalf of Daily Kos.
In November of 2008, then-candidate Barack Obama swept through the Midwest, winning many states (including Wisconsin) by double digits. Today, the President’s numbers are nearly reversed in the Badger State: whereas Obama carried the state 56-42 in 2008, his job approval now is 41%, with 54% expressing disapproval. This is a tendency that has been mimicked throughout the Midwest, and may well explain why this region seems to be the one vexing Democrats the most this cycle.
The malaise with Democratic voters in the state is unmistakable, and is having a material impact on the races here. As our polling partner at PPP, Tom Jensen, noted:
Wisconsin is seeing one of the most severe enthusiasm gaps in the country. If turnout matched 2008 Johnson would be leading Feingold only 47-46 and Barrett would be ahead of Walker 46-44. Right now these races look very difficult but if Democrats wake up between now and November they have the potential to become toss ups.
Johnson has pretty decent favorability marks (46% positive, 32% negative), in part due to the fact that his opponents lacked the resources to lay a glove on him in the recently completed GOP primary. That won’t be the case in the general, and the neophyte candidate has given Feingold plenty of ammunition with the lack of symmetry between his anti-goverment rhetoric and his personal history of having his hand out to the government with astonishing frequency.
If Feingold can make the election about Johnson, he has a chance of resurrecting this race. Clearly, he needs to find some formula for bringing the Democratic base to the polls in order to win. Perhaps Johnson will prove himself to be the kind of villain to motivate Democrats into action.
Meanwhile, in the battle to replace Democratic Governor Jim Doyle, the results are only incrementally better:
Public Policy Polling for Daily Kos. Governor. 9/18-9/19. Likely Voters. MoE 3.8% (6/27 results)
Scott Walker (R) 50 (45)
Tom Barrett (D) 41 (38)
One thing to bear in mind in this race, however, is the fact that Walker is less than one week removed from a high-profile primary in which he defeated former Congressman Mark Neumann. Barrett, meanwhile, was essentially unopposed, and had to expend little-to-no energy thus far. Democrats in the state are, without a doubt, hoping that some of the gap here is owed to a post-primary bounce, which will recede in the next week or two.
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