APPLETON, Wis. – Three-term State Representative Tom Nelson withdrew from the Wisconsin Democratic primary for the U.S Senate. Nelson said he ran out of money: “Unfortunately money matters way too much in politics and running against two self-funding millionaires proved too much for this pastor’s kid.” Nelson had spent $1.4 million on his campaign – far short of multi-millionaires Alex Lasky, $12 million, and Sarah Godlewski, $4 million. Nelson threw his support to the third remaining candidate, Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes. Although now out of the running, Nelson’s name still will appear on the August 9 ballot. His candidacy was already locked in. Whoever wins the primary will go against incumbent U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican.

A feisty campaign

Nelson, of Fond du Lac, has been the county executive of Outgamie County since 2011. Earlier he was in the State Assembly. His U.S. Senate campaign has been feisty. Billboards starting in 2010 were sharp barbs to get under the skin of Senator Ron Johnson whenever he flew in and out of the Oshkosh airport. The campaign also has had a corny flavor. Although never a farmer, Nelson’s television commercials have shown him, obviously uncomfortable, in a straw hat and tooling around on a farm tractor. On issues, Nelson tried to position himself as the most progressive of the Democrats seeking to unseat Johnson.