Dick Leinenkugel: No regret over dropping U.S. Senate bid

Dick Leinenkugel: No regret over dropping U.S. Senate bid

MILWAUKEE — Former beer mogul Dick Leinenkugel stunned Republican followers Sunday by dropping his U.S. Senate bid and throwing his support to a rival. The next day he said he was perfectly at ease with both decisions.

“The weather’s beautiful, I’m sitting here in a nice summer shirt with shorts and flip-flops writing thank-you notes to supporters,” Leinenkugel told The Associated Press by phone Monday. “I feel terrific.”

He didn’t sound terrific Sunday. As he addressed delegates at the state Republican party’s convention in Milwaukee, he spoke somberly of the need to create jobs and limit government interference. He also said Republicans need to unite to defeat U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, the incumbent Democrat.

Then, near the end of his 10-minute speech, he told the audience it’s time to elect a senator who will restore Wisconsin’s conservative values.

“But it is not my time,” he said, prompting many delegates to turn to each other in confusion. “It is Ron Johnson’s time.”

The stunned audience was silent for a moment before breaking into applause. Some people holding signs for Johnson exchanged high-fives while others hugged.

Johnson, an Oshkosh businessman who has been active in the tea party movement, went on to win the party’s endorsement later in the day.

It’s unclear what effect Leinenkugel’s endorsement had on Johnson’s win, but Johnson — without mentioning Leinenkugel by name — said later: “We will appreciate all the support we can get.”

Leinenkugel had launched his campaign in late April and immediately declared himself the front-runner in what was then a three-person race. Madison-area developer Terrence Wall and Watertown businessman Dave Westlake had already entered the race months earlier.

Leinenkugel’s campaign drew almost immediate criticism. Leinenkugel had resigned weeks earlier after serving 19 months as the state’s commerce secretary under Gov. Jim Doyle. The close association with a Democrat left many wary of Leinenkugel’s conservative credentials.

Wall’s campaign rushed out a news release Sunday suggesting Johnson was tainted by the endorsement of a candidate whose principles are so close to those of Doyle.

Leinenkugel dismissed the news release as “childish” and “sour grapes.” He also discounted the idea that he dropped out because he couldn’t win.

“We had a path to victory in terms of taking our message to the voters of Wisconsin,” he said. “Even this morning my wife was going, ’Dick, you’re the one that can beat Russ Feingold had you made it through the primary.“’

Johnson, Wall and Westlake will square off in a Sept. 14 primary. The general election is Nov. 2.

Leinenkugel said he made his decision to drop out on Thursday after consulting with family and advisers. He emphasized that he had zero collaboration with Johnson’s campaign, and said he didn’t inform Johnson until minutes before Leinenkugel took the stage to give his speech.

Leinenkugel didn’t rule out a future run for office.

“Maybe my time will come later,” he said.