THOMPSON LAUNCHES LONG-SHOT CAMPAIGN

SPARTA, Wis. - The theme from "Rocky" blared as Libertarian gubernatorial
long-shot Ed Thompson returned to Monroe County last week after a whirlwind
campaign tour of Wisconsin.

But can Tomah's mayor, whose candidacy was inspired by Minnesota's Jesse
Ventura, triumph in a political battle royal with equivalents of Apollo
Creed, Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago?

Unless Thompson gets Ventura's name recognition and manages to amass a big
campaign chest, his chances of being elected are slim, said University of
Wisconsin-Madison political science professor Ken Mayer. "If he wasn't
Tommy Thompson's brother, he would be nothing more than a curiosity," Mayer
said.

Thompson and his supporters don't see it that way, believing their
Libertarian message of "freedom, liberty, smaller taxes, less government"
can woo enough of Republican Gov. Scott McCallum's conservative supporters
to make a difference in a three-way race.

Thompson, an advocate of legalizing video gambling in taverns, joins a
campaign already crowded with candidates. Along with McCallum the sole
Republican, the Democrats include Attorney General James Doyle, U.S. Rep.
Tom Barrett, State Sen. Gary George of Milwaukee and Dane County Executive
Kathleen Falk.

Doyle spokesman Thad Nation said their campaign wasn't going to take any
candidate lightly. Does McCallum feel a threat? "No, not at all," said
campaign strategist Brian Christianson. Thompson rolled away from the
Capitol Thursday in a 1982 Pace Arrow RV nicknamed the "War Wagon," and
spent the day flying to six other cities in a rented jet to announce his
candidacy. He ended up back in Monroe County with a rally at Club Oasis in
Sparta.

"My path is to lead and serve with the same common sense I learned in my
dad's grocery store (in Elroy)," Thompson told supporters.

Thompson spoke candidly about a two-party system he called "incredibly
corrupt."

"It is one party in Madison, the Republicrats," he said. "I am not saying I
know all the answers, but I will hold everyone accountable."

Thompson said he is committed to reducing the state budget and cutting
taxes. One way to do that is by keeping non-violent criminals out of
crowded prisons. "Non-violent people don't be-long in prisons," Thompson
said. "You can't keep putting pot smokers in prison for five years."

Thompson favors decriminalizing marijuana, which he acknowledged could cost
him votes. "But it's also possible that a lot of people will vote for me
because of it," he said. "The war on drugs is a dismal failure."