[Mrfnews] 060707 - Leaders Report - June

[mrfnews at mrf.org]

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MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
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Suite 510
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Michael Kerr, MRF Vice President
boz at mrf.org (e-mail)

Tommy Thompson and the "Sturgis Factor"

His campaign has very little money, his polling numbers are... well, let's
just say they are sub-par, and he is not exactly the darling of national
media. Yet there is an almost religious like fervor among his supporters
that makes former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson's presidential
candidacy hard to dismiss.

Governor Thompson is a motorcycle rider. Not a photo op or Saturday
afternoon parade rider, but a real motorcyclist who takes thousand mile
plus trips. He has won much respect from Wisconsin bikers for his time in
the saddle and they regard him as one of their own.

Despite a lack of special interest cash, Governor Thompson feels that his
campaign of commonsense conservatism will resonate in the heartland. His
campaign strategy is that a win or a very strong showing in the Iowa
presidential straw poll this August would act as a springboard to his
moving into contention for the Republican nomination. He is asking his
friends in the motorcycle community for help.

In writing about Governor Thompson's campaign strategy in the Washington
Post, columnist George Will described something called the "Sturgis
Factor." The "Sturgis Factor", as defined by Mr. Will, is the possibility
of a large number of motorcyclists returning home from the annual
motorcycle rally and participating in the straw poll. Could this
politically hard to define voting block turn from the current front
running juggernauts and cast their lot with a fellow rider such as Mr.
Thompson? In a small sampling such as the straw poll a solid block vote
would have an impact. A strong showing by the governor could change the
dynamic of the GOP race as it heads into the primary season.

Before one snickers and turns away, it may be worth a moment to recall
some early presidential frontrunners who purportedly  couldn't lose
(anyone remember Gary Hart?) and a once obscure governor from a small
southern state who stunned the political world in 1992 by beating an
incumbent president who had a double digit lead early on in the race.
Picking whom will be the next President of the United States sixteen
months before Election Day is akin to playing the horses on a muddy race
track. It's not usual for the frontrunner to fade in the stretch.

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (more specifically MRFPAC) is not
endorsing a candidate in the Iowa straw poll. We are encouraging
involvement however.

A group of riders has formed "Team Tommy" to support the governor's
campaign. Team Tommy counts among its members the founder of ABATE of
Wisconsin. They are planning a ride on August 10 in Ames to support the
governor's efforts which will coincide with the Iowa straw poll. Non-Iowa
residents will be welcome to participate in the parade. Check out Team
Tommy's web site at www.teamtommy.org and consider supporting a fellow
rider.

No matter which presidential candidate you support, whether you are a
Democrat, Republican, or independent you have to admit that seeing terms
such as the "Sturgis Factor" used by such a prestigious journalist as
George Will means that we are doing something right. Perhaps a new term
has been coined here. Let's hope the "Sturgis Factor" is something that
will blossom into increased political involvement and activism by
motorcyclists and play a part in many congressional and local races
throughout the country in 2008.

Best of luck to our good friend, Governor Tommy Thompson.

Ride Free Forever
Michael Kerr
MRF Vice President


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(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction
permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated
in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists' rights
organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists'
rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC,
the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted
exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early
1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause
of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists' rights organizations and the
very founders of the American riders' rights movement among its leading
members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and
regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public
awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists' rights
organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional
and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as
well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.