Johnson Who Answered Call From Fox News Pundit Dick Morris for “Rich Guy From Wisconsin,” Has Money Bombed Himself More Than $5 Million
MADISON — Republican Senate Candidate Ron Johnson’s all-day fundraising effort today is nothing more than an attempt to hide the millions of his own money that he has spent to buy the U.S. Senate seat.
Johnson told news outlets earlier this year that he was motivated to run after hearing Fox News pundit Dick Morris call for a “rich guy from Wisconsin.”
“I was sitting at home watching Fox News and Dick Morris came on and said ‘Hey, you know, Feingold is vulnerable. You know, if you’re a rich guy from Wisconsin, step up to the plate.’ I kind of looked at (my wife) Jane and said ‘is he, like, talking to me?” (WLUK Fox 11 News, 5/17/10]
“Ron Johnson admitted he got into this race because Fox News and Dick Morris wanted a rich guy from Wisconsin to run. Ron Johnson heard the rich guy call from Dick Morris and has been spending millions ever since,” said Mike Tate, Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
Johnson told the media he was willing to spend his entire family fortune on the race. The Washington Post reported:
Johnson can fund himself. Asked how much of his wealth he will spend, if necessary, his answer is as simple as it is swift: “All of it.” [George Will Column), 5/27/10]
Johnson’s most recent check to himself? More $800,000 — more than he’ll earn today in any one-day fund-raising effort.
Ron Johnson’s self-funding history:
5/1/2010 = $200,000
6/9/2010 = $1,274,184
7/19/2010 = $925,000
8/10/2010 = $500,000
8/19/2010 = $1,500,000
9/8/2010 = $865,000
Total = $5,264,184 (Source: FEC reports)
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