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Elections: 2006 Candidate Profiles

Wisconsin - Governor

Summary | History | Outlook | Polls

Herb Kohl (Democrat, 3-term incumbent)

Website: www.herbkohl.com

Robert Gerald Lorge (Republican)

Website: www.law2win.com

Rae Vogeler (Wisconsin Green)

Website: www.voterae.org

Ben J. Glatzel (Independent)

Website: www.glatzelforsenate.com

Summary:

Three-term Democratic Senator Herb Kohl serves on the Judiciary Committee, Appropriations Committee, and the Special Committee on Aging. Kohl's agenda includes making health care more affordable, creating good-paying jobs, strengthening public schools, protecting Social Security, investing in homeland security and properly funding first-responders, and insuring Wisconsin receives its fair share of federal funds.

Robert Gerald Lorge, an attorney and former Republican nominee for Secretary of State and candidate for US Senate, is campaigning for lower taxes, quality health care, helping to save Social Security, higher paying jobs, and better education and job training.

Rae Vogeler, a community activist and peace organizer, is campaigning to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq immediately, to reduce the military budget in favor of education, job creation, and affordable housing, to provide universal health care, to protect civil rights and liberties, and to defend affirmative action.

Ben J. Glatzel, an independent candidate, is running on the issues of lower taxes, less government, a strong national defense, rights for the unborn, fighting out-sourcing of American jobs, and encouraging new and innovative fuel sources.

History:

Kohl was first elected to the US Senate in 1988 to fill the seat vacated by longtime Wisconsin Senator William Proxmire. Kohl won that race over Susan Engeleiter by only 5 points, but followed that up with very successful reelection campaigns in 1994 (18 points over Robert Welch) and 2000 (25 points over John Gillespie). Wisconsin has elected Democrats to the U.S. Senate in 13 of the last 15 races since 1962.

Outlook:

Herb Kohl is an extremely popular Senator, ranking in the Top 20 most popular in the United States, with approval ratings in the low 60s (SurveyUSA, September 2006). Wisconsin will continue their trend of sending Democrats to the U.S. Senate this November.

Polls:

Poll Date
Kohl
Lorge
Other /
No opinion
Sample MoE
Rasmussen October 18, 2006
64%
25%
11%
500 LV ± 4.5
Rasmussen September 14, 2006
60%
33%
 7%
500 LV ± 4.5
Rasmussen August 10, 2006
59%
31%
10%
500 LV ± 4.5
Rasmussen July 12, 2006
60%
27%
13%
500 LV ± 4.5
Badger Poll1 June 23 – July 2, 2006
63%
14%
24%
508 ± 4.0

1 "Herb Kohl will be the Democratic candidate for US Senator this year, but it is unclear who will be on the ballot for the Republicans ... Now suppose Robert Gerard Lorge is the Republican candidate. As of now, would you prefer Kohl or Lorge?"