To key Republicans who think about elections first, McCallum isn't off to nearly the same kind of start that Bush is. While McCallum's job performance and favorability rankings are OK, some strategists complain about missed opportunities, outright fumbles and the lack of a winning formula. The election isn't lost by a long shot, they say, but things could be better. Some criticism remains harsh and unfair-given that McCallum, a new governor, is being compared to Tommy Thompson , a longtime governor at his peak of power. But, the realists say, that's the way voters will make the comparison so McCallum will have to live with it.
Institutional forces are at work, too.
After all of these years of Thompson domination, even bickering lawmakers can agree that getting back some of that power from the executive branch is a good thing for them. Those close to the McCallum camp say the governor's office has yet to become a cohesive unit. Staff friction, the critics say, too often has led to a reactive approach, slow response time, and indecision. Only the boss will be able to solve the problem, say the critics, suggesting a staff shake-up. Another rap on the McCallum team is that it hasn't been good about seeking advice from its friends, or using good advice when it's given.