KOHL GETS CHALLENGER IN PRIMARY

Self-Proclaimed Radical Makes Long-Shot Bid to Oust Democrat

This probably comes as a surprise to you: There is a statewide primary
election on Sept. 12 for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate.

But if you have a taste for the offbeat in politics, what's not to
like in a match between Herb Kohl, an 18-year Senate veteran and a
powerhouse in state politics, and Ben Masel, who lists "good hash" as
one of his four interests on his MySpace page on the Internet. (And,
yes, he's referring to hashish and not potatoes.) His other three
interests: "Getting acquitted. Chess . . . Hangin' with my brand new
granddaughter."

Not surprisingly, Kohl is favored to win in a landslide. The
multimillionaire is a household name and has advertised extensively on
television since last winter. Masel says he has collected $770 in $1
donations.

Democratic voters will have to choose between the mild-mannered Kohl
and the longtime Madison leftist activist whom some remember for
spitting in the face of presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Henry "Scoop"
Jackson in 1976 ("it wasn't the smartest thing I ever did," Masel says
now) and others recall as the leader of "Weedstock" marijuana
festivals more recently.

It's been a low-key campaign so far.

In seeking his fourth Senate term, Kohl has made a moderate number of
campaign appearances around the state and has not addressed Masel's
challenge directly. He is currently not advertising on television.

For his part, Masel says he's trying to run "a relentlessly positive
campaign," and he has been restrained in criticizing Kohl. "He's doing
the best job he knows how," Masel said of Kohl. "But I just don't
think he's really up to speed on the kind of challenges we face in the
21st century."

In advertising and campaign promotional pieces, Kohl's campaign has
emphasized his work in meeting the everyday needs of Wisconsinites -
help for farmers; local law enforcement; veterans; kids in
after-school programs; people frustrated dealing with government
bureaucracy.

Kohl said he wants more urgent efforts to develop alternative fuels
and more fuel-efficient cars and has brought federal grants to many
communities around Wisconsin for such things as health clinics. He
also cited his record in arranging economic development grants for
communities.

The mood in Wisconsin on the war in Iraq is "pretty bleak," he said.
The Bush administration has not pursued successful policies in Iraq
beyond the initial toppling of the government, and the U.S. needs to
make it clear to the Iraqi government that Iraqis need to take more
responsibility for conditions there, Kohl said.

Kohl said he is running his campaign the same way, regardless of who
his opponent is.

"I campaign based on who I am, what I've done, what my standards are,"
he said. Voters seem to like what he's doing, he said.

Masel says he hopes the campaign will allow him "to break out of the
one-trick pony thing" when it comes to getting his voice heard on
issues. The one trick has been his push for the legalization of drugs
("I'm pro-choice on everything," his Web site says), but he says in
this race he is promoting his views in favor of more protection from
government when it comes to privacy and his opposition to the Patriot
Act.

He says the first bill he would introduce would be to change the War
Powers Act so American forces could be used only in a way declared by
Congress.

If he wins, how will people in Washington, D.C., react? "I don't think
they'll be looking at Russ Feingold as the wild-eyed radical from
Wisconsin any more because that position will be taken," Masel said.

As for Masel's stated interest in "getting acquitted," he gives his
occupation as "civil liberties plaintiff," and he now faces a charge
of trespassing on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Memorial Union's
terrace when he was collecting signatures for his nomination petitions
against the orders of UW officials.

In the Nov. 7 general election, the winner of the Democratic primary
will face Republican Robert Gerald Lorge, who is running without the
backing of the party's establishment structure, Wisconsin Green Party
candidate Rae Vogeler and independent Ben Glatzel of Milwaukee.

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HERB KOHL

Age: 71

Address: time in district: 929 N. Astor, Milwaukee. Lifelong Milwaukee
resident.

Occupation: Senator, owner of Milwaukee Bucks basketball team.

Elective offices: other government experience: Elected to U.S. Senate,
1988, 1994, 2000.

Family: Single.

BEN MASEL

Age: 51

Address: time in district: 1214 E. Mifflin St. Lived in Madison, with
some interruptions, since 1971.

Occupation: "Civil liberties plaintiff"

Elective offices: other government experience: Has run unsuccessfully
for various offices as a Republican, Libertarian and
non-partisan

Family: Single; one daughter