Second try in the Second

Radio station owner Dave Magnum is making another run for congress against Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District, according to The Capital Times.

Republican Dave Magnum is preparing to take another shot at unseating U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, in next year's congressional elections.

In a July 29 letter to supporters, Magnum said he will formally announce his candidacy on Aug. 16 at the Concourse Hotel.

Baldwin defeated Magnum by nearly a two-to-one margin last year.

Magnum, a radio station owner who was making his first foray into politics, wrote that he was "swamped in Dane County under what (former U.S. Rep.) Scott Klug called the 'Kerry tsunami.'"

Someone should break the bad news to Magnum that he got soundly beat outside Dane County as well, 55% to 45%.

According to Dennis York, it won't be one of Dave Magnum's consultants.

Magnum’s federal campaign finance reports show a badly mismanaged, top-heavy campaign that shelled out nearly $117,000 in consulting fees and staff salaries – almost as much as Ron Greer spent in his entire 2002 campaign. Magnum used four different consulting firms.

...I’d like to see a Republican win this seat as much as anyone, but it will take the right candidate receiving the right advice. Spending almost $700,000 to get 2% more of the vote than the clearly unelectable Ron Greer is simply not acceptable.

Magnum apparently got a pretty late start the last time. Starting now, a little bit wiser than he was the first time around, hopefully he make a stronger showing. However, I have to believe a win in this district for the Republicans would be a bigger upset than defeating Ron Kind or Dave Obey. Magnum may have to reach deeper into his pockets while spending smarter if he is to have a chance to win.