Wisconsin GOP Senate hopeful Mark Neumann’s campaign has released a new radio ad in an attempt to defend his 2010 primary challenge against the state’s popular Republican governor, Scott Walker.
The ad, which began running Tuesday, insists that if Neumann knew how conservative a governor Walker would turn out to be, he never would have run against him in the 2010 gubernatorial primary, and touts his support of Walker ever since.
Neumann Campaign Manager Chip Englander described the buy as “heavy.”
“When I see a problem, I like to do something about it,” Neumann says in the ad. “That’s why I wrote a plan that balanced the budget when I served in congress. That’s why I helped start three Christian choice schools in Milwaukee’s inner city. And that’s why when I saw the crazy spending under [former Democratic Governor] Jim Doyle and his liberal friends, I ran for governor in 2010.”
“Frankly,” Neumann continues, “if I had known what a bold, conservative leader Scott Walker would be, I wouldn’t have run. I’m just glad I endorsed him on primary night, worked for his election, and then kept on working right through the recall. I’m proud to call Scott governor. I’m running for senate, to do in Washington what Scott Walker’s doing in Wisconsin. I’ve written a detailed plan that eliminates Obamacare, cuts spending, and balances our federal budget.”
The ad concludes with a narrator touting Neumann’s endorsements.
A second version of the ad talks about a rally Tea Party Express is holding for Neumann on Thursday. The group endorsed Neumann last week and is currently doing a bus tour around the state to help raise support for him.
Neumann has drawn criticism from his opponents and others for having run against Walker in the gubernatorial primary. That campaign was viewed as fairly nasty, and Neumann stayed in the race despite calls from prominent Wisconsin Republicans to drop out.
But Neumann told TheDC in June, just before Walker faced a recall election, that his run against Walker was water under the bridge between the two men.