Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Tim Michels has drawn attention from national conservative figures, due to his ideological similarities to President Bush and Wisconsin's uncertainty in the upcoming presidential election.
Winning the Sept. 14 Republican primary by a healthy margin, Michels' platform stresses affordable health care, the preservation of homeland security, and the stimulation of jobs and the economy.
A Wisconsin native, Michels holds degrees from St. Norbert College, the University of Chicago and the Illinois Institute of Technology and is a former officer in the U.S. Army's elite Airborne Ranger unit.
In contrast with opponent U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., Michels has supported the Patriot Act, saying law enforcement must be empowered to disable terrorists.
\Tim Michels believes that when the Patriot Act comes up for renewal, it's very possible it will be a yea or nay vote,"" St. John said, adding Michels would approve its re-signing.
Michels also pledges to vociferously defend the Second Amendment right to bear arms and is adamantly anti-abortion.
Michels' campaign ads have served to widen the political schism between himself and Feingold. On his Web site, Michels contrasts his military credentials and connection to blue-collar business, two issues crucial to his primary victory, against Feingold's antiwar position. Michels also asserts his support for the purchase of inexpensive prescription drugs from Canada and says he regards himself as a businessman who will work to simplify the tax code and support Bush's job-creating initiatives.
""Unlike Russ Feingold, I'll vote to keep Washington out of your pockets,"" Michels said.
UW-Madison political science Professor Charles Franklin, when questioned on how Michels must prepare for the upcoming debates with Feingold, said experienced politicians typically have an advantage in that they know more about the intricacies of public policy.
""I think in general, a candidate like Michels that is new to politics has to be very clear in preparing one or two issues he wants to talk about,"" Franklin said.
Franklin emphasized that Michels needs to identify and captivate target audiences to pull votes from Feingold. Franklin also drew the important distinction between slanderous attacks and comparative advertising, stressing Michels has every right to call Feingold's voting record into question.
""I think Michels has, should and will draw the contrasts as much as he can with Feingold, but I don't think that needs to be interpreted as negative advertising so much as spirited policy debate,"" Frankin said.
