Today, we lost a close vote. The press is reporting that the final vote in the Senate Republican Vice Chair race was 25-22.

I sincerely appreciate the grassroots support from people who understand that Washington is broken – and the conservative community is high on that list. Without your strong and clear voice, the vote today would not have been as close as it was. The message you are sending about the need to rein in spending, to repeal Obamacare, to prevent excessive regulation, and to take advantage of America’s own energy resources, is beginning to get through. Your work is important and it is appreciated; please keep it up.

Notwithstanding the Senate vote, we need to be focused on the election ahead. In 2012, the American people will have a clear choice between two competing visions. Republican candidates for the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the White House, should commit to drawing a clear contrast.

President Obama’s agenda has failed. The American people know that we cannot spend our way into prosperity. Instead, we need to make the tax code simpler, flatter, and fairer. We must repeal Obamacare, reduce spending, and cut harmful federal regulations.

As long as I serve in the Senate, I will do all that I can to fix our problems and strengthen America. The American people deserve a clear choice in 2012. Let’s give it to them.

Ron Johnson