Conservative Oklahoma Senator endorses Neumann in GOP Senate primary

One of the four GOP candidates vying to run for the seat being left by U.S. Senator Herb Kohl got an endorsement from a high profile conservative lawmaker yesterday.

Business owner, former Congressman and several-time candidate for state office Mark Neumann welcomed an endorsement from Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn, who appeared in Green Bay to boost Neumann’s latest campaign.

Both men praised the other’s conservative record. When asked what sets him apart from the three other GOP candidates Neumann says he’s the most conservative:

“Thirty years of experience in the private sector, much like Ron Johnson, creating Wisconsin jobs, coupled with four years experience in Washington DC.”

Sen. Coburn interrupted to bring up the time in the late ’90s when then- Congressman Neumann sat on the Appropriations Committee. He went against Republican Party leadership and was temporarily removed:

“When you, as a freshman Congressman, take on the chair of the Appropriations Committee on your side of the aisle and say, ‘you’re wrong,’ then get kicked off the committee because you challenged the status quo that has this country bankrupt: That’s the kind of leadership we need in Washington.”

In the August primary Neumann faces former Gov. Tommy Thompson, businessman Eric Hovde, and state lawmaker Jeff Fitzgerald. The prevailing Republican will run against Democratic U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin.