Maybe voters actually LIKE Herb Kohl

While Jessica McBride tries to find reasons to like Robert Gerald Lorge, the Republican candidate for US Senate that no one recruited or wanted, claiming Lorge is more in touch with Wisconsin voters than Sen. Herb Kohl, Michael Mathias rises to defend our senior Senator:

Now that the state GOP’s hand-wringing and head-turning over finding a “creditable” Republican to run against Herb Kohl has been replaced by cringing and finger-pointing, maybe it’s time to consider whether the senator’s popularity is tied to his accomplishments and not his personal wealth.

I know, I know—this is the jaded age. Any suggestion that Wisconsin voters actually like Kohl, and haven’t just been purchased by him, is greeted with jeers from Republicans...

But just maybe Wisconsin voters will reelect Senator Kohl because he reflects their values, votes their conscience, and has been an effective representative for the state.

True, he is not flashy. He is, however, extremely popular—and with just about everybody. During his last run in 2000, Harris Interactive produced a poll giving Kohl support from 91% of self-identified Democrats and 67% of Independents. No surprise there, but he also had the support of 43% of Republicans. And—hang on, it gets even better—45% of conservatives.

Mathias examines and explains Kohl's popularity on his blog, Pundit Nation.