There couldn't be a greater contrast between Jim Holperin and Kim Simac. One is mild-mannered and moderate, the other inflammatory and extreme. Typically, the most right wing politicians in Wisconsin seem to come from the MIlwaukee metro area, including Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties. The Great North-- especially the Northeast -- is certainly not dyed-in-the-wool liberal, but nor is it known for sending right wing zealots to Madison. Kim Simac could be that change.
Simac's campaign has kept her under wraps in recent weeks, calculating correctly that what is standard script for a Glenn Beck monologue won't get you to 50 +1 percent in a general election. Although I'm sure there are a great many amusing conspiracy theories that would gain traction around bar time in a Conover tavern, most parents in the area probably aren't quite ready to compare the schools their children attend to the Nazi regime. Hey, I'm all for intellectual dialogue, but I ain't running for office.
Anyway, Blaska is confident Krazy Kim is going to pull it off. Well hell, like any good investor, I smell a profit in that prediction. So I proposed a wager to the Squire: He wins, two drinks on me. I win, vice-versa. He agreed.
If Blaska weren't so notorious for over-estimating Republican victories, his confidence in Holperin's demise would lead me to believe a couple insiders had assured him the race was in the bag. His response: "I am the insider." Once upon a time Dave, once upon a time. Since then he's predicted that Jon Erpenbach would lose, that Sondy Pope-Roberts would go down, and that conservatives would add 7 seats on the County Board. That's what I'm basing my bet on. And the PPP poll that shows Holperin way ahead doesn't hurt.
Simac could win. It's a very scary possibility. But I'm going to guess that Holperin will hang on. And hopefully, if Blaska responds before 8 p.m., he'll owe me two drinks.
Official Sconz Prediction: Holperin holds seat. Secondary prediction (excluded from bet): Holperin wins by 4 points.
