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Saturday, June 10, 2006

Weekly Open Thread: What Races Are You Interested In?

Posted by DavidNYC

We've got some primaries ahead this Tuesday as well: Maine, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia and run-offs in Arkansas. What looks good to you?

Posted at 06:59 PM in Open Threads | Technorati

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Just today, Minnesota held its DFL endorsement convention and after many rounds of balloting, frontrunner Mike Hatch took the endorsement within the last couple of hours. The process was fairly suspenseful as Becky Lourey, who was expected to do much better with delegates, was coming in third place after the first few rounds of balloting and ultimately withdrew her name. Lourey plans to run against Hatch in the September primary, which probably hurt her chances with delegates who always dislike when candidates buck the party endorsement.

After Lourey dropped out, State Senator Steve Kelley benefitted as Lourey supporters overwhelmingly flocked to him. Hatch regained the momentum after that, however, and pulled off the necessary 60%. Kelley's campaign is likely to end at this point since he promised to abide by the endorsement. Kelley would have been a strong candidate, having support from the education lobby and being a Senator from second-ring Twin Cities suburbs that are vital to a winning candidacy in today's Minnesota. Unfortunately, his recent vote in favor of a taxpayer-subsidized Minnesota Twins stadium probably hurt him with some delegates.

Hatch should be able to cruise through this fall's primary having statewide name recognition as a popular Attorney General. Hatch strikes me as the strongest candidate of the three in some respects. I expect him to pull in boffo numbers in outstate Minnesota, particularly the Iron Range, which will be needed to negate what I expect to be a Pawlenty advantage in most of the suburbs. His downside is a less-than-affable personality and charisma gap with golden boy Pawlenty.

Lourey is the most authentic candidate of the three and the most unapologetically liberal. She gained some moral authority last year when her son was killed in Iraq. Nonetheless, she strikes me as the least electable of the three statewide, particularly with Independence Party candidate Peter Hutchinson ready, willing, and able to splinter center-left votes from those who deem the Democratic candidate unacceptable. In the new Minnesota, otherwise DFL voters may feel that way about Lourey, at least in a gubernatorial run. She seems better suited for a U.S. Senate race, so I hope she doesn't completely rule out a bid to run against Norm Coleman in 2008.

Beating Pawlenty is imperative because his is a skilled politician from a blue state that would be a tremendous asset to the Republican ticket in 2008. He pledged to not accept offers to be a running mate on a Presidential ticket last month, but we all know how that goes. Stopping this guy now is definitely in the Democratic Party's interest, but it's not likely to be easy even for Hatch.

Posted by: Mark at June 10, 2006 09:09 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I thought MN's convention was a while bank, when Wetterling was endorsed over Tinklenberg. Or was that a local affair?

Posted by: DavidNYC at June 10, 2006 10:02 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

David, that was the MN-06 convention. This was the statewide convention. Don't ask me why Minnesota has such a convoluted system. They make things interesting, but they sure are difficult to explain to non-Minnesotans.

Posted by: Mark at June 10, 2006 10:57 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Mark I so enjoy your writing about MN politics. How do you think Hatch would do in Collin Peterson's district? In your opinion, could a strong enough Hatch victory in Oberstar's and Peterson's district, along with a possible narrow upset in Gutneckt's district, alongside with the normal landslides in Ramsey County, and at least a fairly strong win in Hennipin County, make up for the extreme strength you say that Pawlenty has in Ramstad, Kline, and Kennedy's districts? Either way, Peter Hutchinson is no where near as strong as Dick Penny was for the Independant Party, Dick Penny got almost 16% of the vote. Pawlenty only narrowly beat the DFL candidate four years ago, and that was with conservative Democrat Dick Penny taking many votes that might have eventually gone to the Democratic Candidate.

Me, I'm looking at Arkansas right now. Andy Mayberry, ' Return to Mayberry' looks like he has already, in the words of our local R newspapaer the Democrat-Gazette. (I know it's Ironic), "blaahed, kind of like every candidate the Republicans have ever thrown at Saint Vic". Runoffs are this Tuesday. Their are several very hot ones that worry me, Mac Campbell for State Treasurer, sand Dustin McDaniel for Attorneys General. Mac Campbell is who I'm leaning for, simply because he's got enough experience, he's highly intelligent, and capable, and he's got good ideas. Schnoffner is is 62, Campbell is 34. For me, this is also a matter of inserting fresh young blood into the Arkansas Democratic Party. That being said, Schnoffner's campaign has impressed by actually responding to my emails, and replying. One instance, I emailed her campaign asking who Jimmie Lou Fisher's predessecor was, and her campaign manager then personally emailed me back, and said he had to call Jimmie Lou Fisher and ask her, it was Nancy Hall, and she was, as I already knew, elected in 1962. An little interesting bit of info here, Arkansas has had only three Treasurers in the past 44 years. Dustin McDaniel is someone I strongly, Strongly, Strongly, support. Suskie is so conservative that one Opinion Editorialist, who is a libretarian kind of guy, wrote, "He should really get that pesky little party registration thing fixed up." McDaniel is a moderate guy, and even though he's only been in the legislature for one term, he's been highly active. He really impressed me there by drafting one of the most influential bills to be passed by the Legislature this year, practically unheard of for a 32 year old freshman lawmaker, it was the ArkanasRxx program. He also became Chairman of HEALTH INSURANCE & PRESCRIPTION DRUGS Committee. He was one of the Democrat-Gazette's 10 Outstanding Legislators, the only Freshman on the list. He graduated first in a class of nearly 100 when he took Criminal Justice. His father, being one of the most prominent and powerful lawuers in the state, had expect5ed him to move straight on to law school, but he turned down offers from Yale, Harvard, Georgetown, Stanford, and Tulane, and instead became a member of the Jonesboro police force instead. He said he wanted to give something back to the community. After several years, he then went to law school got his degree, spent 3 years in doing various private, and public sector work, and has spent the last 14 months as a member of the Arkanas Legislature. OIf course Suskie, North Litte Rock's City Atorney, is 35. He was a member of the national Guard, and served in Afgamistan in 2002-2003, he is still in the National Guard, but is curently in the reserves and is on an Arkansas Tour, he has said that even if elected Attorneys General, he would go back and fight in Iraq or Afgamistan, which would be quite a story. Suskie is just too conservative for me, and that's why I support Dustin McDaniel who would be the same age as Clinton's was when he was inaugerated Attorney General in 1976, actually a year or two older, sorry. Halter is going to beat Wooldridge in a breeze, which is a relief because their's little about his legislative career that I like, and little about his opinions that I like. I still however, wish Halter had not jumped into the LG race. If he hadn't my Democratic idol here, Mike Hathorn, would have made the run off, and probably narrowly beat State Senator Tim Wooldridge because the moderate to liberal wing of the democratic party represents a much larger chunk of the party. Arkansas is still a Democratic Bastion, and also a Democratic Bastion for Democratic beliefs on Economic Issues, however, this state is very, very conservative on Social Issues. Three Fourths of the voters voted for the Gay Marriage Ban, and about 56% of reisdents describe themselves as pro-life, ahead of Mississippi, Tennessee, S and N Carolina, VA, LA, but behind WV, TX, OK, and Alabama according to SUSA. That's it I guess.

Posted by: ArkDem at June 10, 2006 11:12 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

ArkDem, I expect Hatch to do better than most Democrats in Peterson's district (MN-07) and score as many counties victories as Pawlenty (but unfortunately the high population counties in MN-07 are GOP strongholds). I'd be surprised if Hatch didn't win 10 of the 11 thinly-populated border counties in MN-07 which always seem to support DFL gubernatorial candidates even if they trend more conservatively in national races.

Hatch should really clean house in MN-08, although the northern exurbs of Minneapolis-St. Paul are diluting Democratic strength districtwide. The northern two-thirds of the district, however, should be solid Hatch territory if he runs an even halfway competent campaign.

MN-01 will be a wild card for the gubernatorial race and I frankly have no clue which way it will go. Sensing that MN-01 population center Rochester is slipping out of GOP hands, Pawlenty has been lavishing money on them like crazy in the last two years, and he may be rewarded for it. Beyond that, the always unpredictable Irish Catholic voters of Minnesota's southwestern counties could play a role in the MN-01 outcome, both in the Congressional race and the gubernatorial race. They have few votes, but if the races are as close as I'm hoping, the outcome could easily depend on the way the conservative Democrats of Murray, Jackson, Nobles and Watonwan Counties swing.

As for Peter Hutchinson, he's a bit player right now, but I've seen this guy speak and he's quite charismatic...not to mention left-of-center. Democrats and independents underwhelmed by Hatch may choose Hutchinson in a protest vote. And Hutchinson will not fly under the radar like many third-party candidates do. Since Penny (by the way, it's Tim Penny, not Dick Penny) got more than 5% of the vote (he got 16%) in 2002, Hutchinson is eligible to participate in the televised debates. If he outshines Hatch the way that Ventura outshined Humphrey in 1998 and Pawlenty outshined Penny in 2002, expect poll support to surge for Hutchinson at Hatch's expense. If Hutchinson gets even 3%, I can't see Hatch being able to win given how strong Pawlenty will do in the districts you mentioned (MN-02, MN-06, and to a lesser extent MN-03).

I'm very surprised to see Arkansas is so Democratic still, considering those rock-solid conservative numbers on abortion and gay marriage you cite. It's pretty much the last bastion of the Yellow Dog Democrats where a solid percentage of southern whites still vote Democrat. My ex-girlfriend was born and raised in Lawrence County in the northeast corner of the state....very much a Yellow Dog stonghold. Do you think Hillary could win there in 2008 given that she was the first lady there for so long?

Posted by: Mark at June 11, 2006 01:11 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I think the primary in Virginia between Harris Miller and Jim Webb is easily the premier matchup on Tuesday. It looks like its coming down to the wire. Personally, I think Webb is the only one who stands a shot at upsetting George Allen.

Posted by: SamKessler at June 11, 2006 08:37 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

NC 11, NC 13, NC 08

Posted by: Larry at June 11, 2006 10:24 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Why does everyone think NC-13 is competitive? Robinson is a joke he is a fundie and a loser who only runs ads attacking gay people. I don't think i guy like that can win in a District that Kerry won by 5 points.

Posted by: D in FL. at June 11, 2006 11:46 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Moreover, NC-13 was one of only two districts nationwide which voted for Bush in 2000 but then voted for Kerry in 2004. It's not only a Dem district, but it's trending further Dem.

Rep. Miller is awesome, but I think we do ourselves and him a disservice by focusing unduly on this race.

Posted by: DavidNYC at June 11, 2006 02:45 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

NC-13
2004 Presidential Vote
Kerry (D) 147,144 (52%)
Bush (R) 132,581 (47%)

2000 Presidential Vote
Bush (R) 113,600 (50%)
Gore (D) 112,953 (49%)

Cook Partisan Index D+2

2004 general Brad Miller (D) 160,896 59% $1,181,327
Virginia Johnson (R) 112,788 41% $350,395
2004 primary Brad Miller (D) unopposed
2002 general Brad Miller (D) 100,287 55% $989,529
Carolyn Grant (R) 77,688 42% $416,344
Other 5,295 3%

Not on Cook's Radar Screen: http://www.cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_house_comp_jun8.pdf

Posted by: Predictor at June 11, 2006 03:02 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

NC-13 has a rather interesting gerrymander, which was of course done to elect a Democrat (the Democrats had control of the Governor, the Assembly, and the Senate in 2001-2002, lost the Assembly and Senate in the 2002 elections, and then gained them back in the 2004 elections).

The bulk of the land in the district is at the northern border of Virginia about halfway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Tennessee border.

But the district snakes down at its far east end to capture part of Raleigh and Wake Forest, in the center to capture Graham, and at the west to capture Greensboro. Since the latter two cities are Democratic but the surrounding areas are Republican, they included as little as possible of the surrounding areas.

Posted by: DemocraticLuntz at June 11, 2006 04:16 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

MN - As a strong Kelley supporter (former staffer and convention boiler room worker), I'm a bit biased myself, but every comment I heard coming out of the convention spoke extremely highly of Kelley - his improvement as a candidate, the ground-up construction of his campaign, his success in fundraising in a relatively short period of time with very little initial statewide name-recognition, his convention speech, and his conduct on the convention floor and in defeat. He'll be back in the State Senate, but I personally expect big things from him, built on the shoulders of what we accomplished these past 12 months.

As for Mike Hatch, I spoke to his campaign manager after the proceedings, and he acknowledged that Hatch needs work as a candidate, especially in his public appearances. He speaks as a lawyer, not as an aspiring Governor, and he will need to work on his stump personality to have a chance against someone as apparently affable as Tim Pawlenty. However, the local races will be interesting, especially the State House races - if the DFL can hold the Senate and take back the House, then a potential Hatch loss hurts a bit less, and we'll be able to isolate Pawlenty a bit from the conduct of a progressive agenda. With only a veto in his pocket, the pressure would be on him instead of on our state Senators.

Posted by: JelloAbode at June 11, 2006 10:13 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

JelloAbode, I was wondering about Kelley's role in the state Senate. Has he filed to run again in 2006? If so, that's great news. I concur that he's a strong candidate and is young enough to still be in the game four or eight years into the future.

As for Hatch vs. Pawlenty, I'm not sensing that Pawlenty has made his mark in rural Minnesota, and Hatch could counter his weakness in the suburbs by pulling in supersized margins outstate. That may be a daunting challenge, however, as I'm not optimistic about Amy Klobuchar's prospects outstate in the Senate race. Pawlenty definitely has the odds here and I concur that Hatch was to narrow the charisma gap before the televised debate if he hopes to avoid going the way of Roger Moe.

This being a midterm where the DFL is playing defense for more than a dozen freshmen, some in marginal or GOP-leaning districts, I'm not optimistic about the Dems winning the House, but it's definitely possible given the commanding DFL victories in last fall's special elections.

Posted by: Mark at June 11, 2006 11:37 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

CA 42, how did Mark Hull Richter go?
Do we have candidates in VA 4 and VA 6?

Posted by: BENAWU at June 12, 2006 12:17 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I'm usually here plugging Al Weed (who liveblogged on dkos today) but today it's Jim Webb time. Aside from my many reasons for supporting Webb, I'd like to share why I think this is a landmark election for the Democratic party. Given the strength of the opponent (Allen) it will be quite a David and Goliath situation should Webb emerge victorious, and Democrats should learn as much as possible from it.

Webb left the Democratic party around 1980, when a substantial chunk of the electorate left the Democratic party (remember the Reagan Democrats?) Not only must we be willing to welcome people back to the party, but we need to reach out to them with that goal in mind. Jim Webb is returning to the party at a critical moment in our nation's history, as a proud Libertarian Democrat. Conservative, moderate, independent voters can identify with him, even though he opposes the war, accepts same-sex marriage, resists the control of corporations, and speaks out against the imperial presidency.

When Paul Hackett spoke at UVa, he said the Democratic party needs to forget about gun control (except the assault weapons ban) so that they can truly be the party of privacy. In that same vein, Webb says the government ends at your front door, meaning it can't come take your guns, tap your phones, or regulate your sex life. The Libertarian Democrat angle is what most separates us from the Imperial Republicans, playing the Politics of Contrast, while uniting Americans from all walks of life behind an ideal we all share.

This is an critical time, a mammoth of an incumbent, and the perfect man for the job. Support Jim Webb, and after he wins the primary, pay attention to this race.

Posted by: msnook at June 12, 2006 01:37 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

P.S. Al Weed's field organizer was Paul Hackett's field organizer in '04. He's got some brand new (but still battle-tested) ideas and he is sharp as a razor. I am really excited to be working with him this election season.

Posted by: msnook at June 12, 2006 01:41 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I'm just wondering about some geographic advantages and disadvantages that may play out in Minnesota on election day. For example, because Klobuchar is from Hennepin county, could she offset the traditional advantage Pawlently would have in CD-3 and help out Hatch? Will Hatch help out Tim Walz to defeat Gil Gutknecht? Will Pawlently significantly hurt Patty Wetterling in CD-6 enough to let Bachman win, or will her performance(win or lose) be good enough to offset Pawlently's traditional advantage there.

And lastly, will Rod Gramm's laugh-out-loud challenge to Oberstar actually go anywhere? (and by anywhere, I mean bring Oberstar under 65%).

Posted by: KainIIIC at June 12, 2006 01:48 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I doubt it Gramms is pathetic and the 8th is a safe district. You would have to have a star candidate run and I just don't see it happening even if they got a star candidate it would still be Lean D.

Posted by: D in FL. at June 12, 2006 03:54 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

KainIIIC, I believe Klobuchar will pull in great numbers in Hennepin County (I also believe she'll need them) and will likely win both of Hennepin-based MN-03 and MN-05. I have a sinking feeling about Klobuchar's prospects outstate (except for the Iron Range) so she'll need that huge Hennepin County turnout that I've been predicting. I'm not at all certain Klobuchar's presence will help Hatch in MN-03 and would bet against it. At least on that front, Steve Kelley may have complemented Klobuchar more on this fall's ticket.

It's too soon to speculate on whether Hatch will help Walz. I do expect Hatch to do well outstate, but perhaps not as well in southern Minnesota than the northern two-thirds of the state. I sense more of a disgust with the GOP at the national level than at the state level in southern Minnesota.

I also can't speak to the effect Pawlenty will have on the Wetterling-Bachmann race in MN-06. Hatch did quite well in the northern suburbs in both of his Attorney General races, so perhaps he'll do better than expected there this time as well. I think the DFL is wise to define Bachmann as the outer fringes of wingnuttia right away to cement that image in voters' heads. I'd be surprised if she (Bachmann) wins in the current climate.

As for Rod Grams, he hails from the southern part of the district which has trending, no charging, towards the Republicans in the last three election cycles. I expect Grams to win a couple of the southern counties of MN-08 and hold Oberstar to 60%. Laugh at him if you want, but getting him on the ballot this year was a masterstroke for the GOP since his presence could boost Republican turnout and help out both Pawlenty and Kennedy statewide, not to mention Republican candidates for statewide offices who I fear could sweep the Secretary of State, Auditor and Attorney General races this fall.

Posted by: Mark at June 12, 2006 09:33 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

The Virginia Senate race and the Lt. Gov. primary in South Carolina.

Posted by: ArmandK at June 12, 2006 01:13 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Kelley will return to his seat in the State Senate. I asked him in passing about the possibility of Senate Majority leader, and his response was "It's complicated," and understandably so. However, on the off-chance that the Republican targeting of current Maj. Leader Dean Johnson, Kelley would be in a perfect position to lead the Senate DFL caucus. Barring that, he scored BIG political points with Hatch AND Lourey supporters at the Convention, and I would not be a bit surprised to see him back for more in 2008 or 2010. As you correctly state, he's still in his early fifties, young and strong enough to have another go at it, depending on the circumstances.

As for local races around Minnesota, the key is that the DFL is not resting on its laurels and targeting just enough seats to take back a bare majority - there are strong House candidates all around the state looking not just to win one for the DFL, but win it by a couple of touchdowns. Shelley Madore, John Benson, Jeremy Kalin, and several other Dems have a very good shot in blue-trending districts. The MN-GOP is most definitely on defense right now, and our many good candidates are keeping them there.

Posted by: JelloAbode at June 12, 2006 01:18 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Holy crap, we should have called this the Minnesota Open Thread. This is some seriously detailed local commentary. Thanks for this!

Posted by: James L. at June 12, 2006 01:30 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

:-) Minnesota - where all the men are strong, the women are good-looking, and all the bloggers and blog addicts are above average in their commentary

Posted by: JelloAbode at June 12, 2006 01:49 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Evidently the RNCC has put NV-03 (Porter) on the danger list and the DCCC has added it to its top 22 competitive seats. Carville had this to say:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/lv-other/2006/jun/10/566665427.html

Posted by: Predictor at June 12, 2006 02:43 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I'm not even from Minnesota but still its politics fascinates me (voted for Mondale in 1984, and Wellstone in 1990). But Minnesota is very important for 2006 as it has an important Senate seat that we must defend, a governor's race that we should strongly target, 1 1st tier House seat, and 2 2nd tier seats up for grab. Personally, I think that MN-01 should be first tier, but unfortunately Tim Walz just does not have enough money or buzz. Anyone think that he should be a netroots candidate for '06? Perhaps that'd move him up to tier 1.

Posted by: KainIIIC at June 12, 2006 03:33 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I'll tell you what - Walz is running a very smart campaign. They haven't equalled Gutknecht's (R-inc) fundraising in MN-01, but they're being very smart about keeping their powder dry. Total, I believe they've crossed the all-important $400,000 line for big DC/DNC donors to take notice, and Tim told me directly over the Convention weekend that he has more than a quarter-million in the bank. It's not a ridiculous amount of money, but it's a very very good start for a first-time candidate. I think the netroots should adopt Walz and turn him INTO a first-tier candidate, because MN-01 CAN be won this year.

Posted by: JelloAbode at June 13, 2006 08:33 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I hope Walz doesn't let voters forget that Gutknecht is breaking his six-term pledge by running this year. That could really give him the momentum for his "time for a change" theme that I sense is prevalent in the district where Gutknecht has never been a particularly revered political figure. Even against fourth-rate opponents like Leigh Pomeroy, he never manages better than about 62%.

Posted by: Mark at June 13, 2006 09:27 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

"As for local races around Minnesota, the key is that the DFL is not resting on its laurels and targeting just enough seats to take back a bare majority - there are strong House candidates all around the state looking not just to win one for the DFL, but win it by a couple of touchdowns. Shelley Madore, John Benson, Jeremy Kalin, and several other Dems have a very good shot in blue-trending districts."

This is good news. Kalin is already on my radar - and not just on my radar, he's actually on my "local races" ActBlue page at

http://www.actblue.com/page/06act-local-think-global

Tell us about Madore and Benson?

Posted by: Christopher Walker at June 13, 2006 11:04 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Going along with Christopher's questions, any links to profiles of Minnesota's DFL legislative candidates would be appreciated. I haven't seen anything yet.

Posted by: Mark at June 13, 2006 11:30 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I didn't realize Jeremy Kalin came so close in 2004. If I'm not mistaken, he's a frequent poster at the Daily Kos. I don't believe the Loren Jennings affair does him any favor in this charging-towards-Republicans district, or the presence of local boy Rod Grams challenging Oberstar in MN-08 for that matter, but perhaps the tide will be strong enough elsewhere to get him through this time.

The transformation of Chisago County has been particularly sad. Throughout the 1980's and 1990's, this was vintage MN-08, a blue-collar bastion of Swedish heritage that consistently voting for landslide losers like Mondale and Dukakis at the Presidential level and hanging tough for Wellstone and Clinton at healthy levels in Presidential races. Then the bottom fell out in 2000, with the influx of exurban yuppies making this terrain less hospitable each cycle (Norm Coleman pulled in an astounding 58% here in 2002). Kalin's race this year will be a test to see if there's anyplace for the DFL (or the national Democratic Party for that matter) in exurbia. If the Dems get swept here again, it's an ugly precedent for the state's political future.

Posted by: Mark at June 13, 2006 11:43 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Most recent first - it's ugly if the DFL keeps hanging on to the traditional thinking that high turnout in the 4th, 5th, and 8th will keep them safe. It won't. The highest vote totals occur in the 3rd and 6th CDs, which means we need candidates who can appeal to exurban voters in Plymouth, Maple Grove, and the 'burbs of St. Cloud.

Can you tell who I was supporting for the gubernatorial endorsement? Anyway.

As for the legislative candidates, I interviewed Shelley Madore (http://www.mncampaignreport.com/?p=22) a while back, MNPublius interviewed Jeremy Kalin (http://www.mnpublius.com/2006/04/spotlight_on_jeremy_kalin_1.html), and I've had numerous contacts with John Benson.

John is a retired teacher from Minnetonka, and made his first attempt at public office in 2004. The DFL had very poor data about Minnetonka - it's a relatively wealthy second-ring suburb of Minneapolis, and has voted consistently for Ron Abrams (R) since he entered the Legislature. However, in 2004, John hit the streets, knocked on a few thousand doors, and got 48% of the vote. While he was helped out by a massive DFL GOTV effort, a blue trend in the West Metro, and Abrams not really running much of a campaign, the incumbent is gone, having been appointed to a judiciary seat by Governor Pawlenty. In an open seat, with a raring-to-go Senate District organization (my SD :) ), a lot is possible.

Posted by: JelloAbode at June 13, 2006 12:46 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

In other Minnesota news, it appears that Dick Cheney is coming to campaign for Congressional candidate wingnut Michele Bachmann, who is on record as saying gay marriage is the most important issue of our time, and has basically dedicated her life to undermining the rights and smearing the reputations of homosexuals. Looks like Cheney's daughter Mary picked the wrong Vice-Presidential candidate to refer to as "total slime".

Posted by: Mark at June 13, 2006 01:53 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

"Bachmann", for those of you not from Minnesota, is Minnesotan for "Total and absolute nutbag".

Posted by: JelloAbode at June 13, 2006 02:36 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

My take was that Bachman is an extreme social conservative neo-con. I'll assume that is what you were getting at.

Posted by: Predictor at June 13, 2006 05:06 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Generally, yes. She is the darling of anti-marriage equality and anti-choice groups across the state.

Posted by: JelloAbode at June 13, 2006 05:22 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Bachmann also equates the very premise of workplace safety protections with "Marxism".

Posted by: Mark at June 13, 2006 06:27 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

NY- CD-3
I don't know how well Peter King is sitting with his campaign bank account, but Dave Mejias should have no worries about King throwing in any of his own money: (From Yahoo News)
"Not all lawmakers were rolling in wealth. Rep. Peter King (news, bio, voting record), R-N.Y., chairman of the House
Homeland Security Committee, reported joint bank account interest of $201 to $1,000 as a major source of unearned income."

Posted by: Predictor at June 14, 2006 01:31 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment