The GOP endorsing convention seemed to wrap things up pretty quickly: state Rep. Tom Emmer will be their gubernatorial nominee.
To chants of “Marty! Marty!”, Rep. Marty Seifert bows out of the Republican gubernatorial race, and endorsed Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, for the party’s gubernatorial endorsement.
“Put your Emmer stickers on!” Seifert told the roaring crowd.
After Emmer had gotten to 56% on the second ballot (60% was needed to endorse), apparently that was enough for Seifert to pull the plug, in the face of Emmer’s last-minute momentum. Emmer, considerably more conservative than the moderate Republicans who are usually the only type who can win statewide, can expect a tough go of it in the general — especially if Independence Party candidate Tom Horner soaks up a big share of moderate votes. (Seifert would have faced the same problem, but Emmer, who just got a Sarah Palin endorsement, seems especially out-of-whack with his state’s preferences.)
Of course Rasmussen polling (3/10) has MAK as the only Dem losing to Emmer in the general.
saving grace here is the DFL nominated a lightweight of a candidate called Margaret Anderson Kelliher.
handing Democrats a blessing, candidate wise. I mean for Governor, John Kaisch, Dillard, Emmer and, (likely), Peter Hoekstra? For Senate Rand Paul, Dan Coats, and Rob Portman? Only thing they didn’t mess up unfortunately was with Mark Kirk.
So, about Horner, does that mean there’s finally a candidate for the IP who doesn’t disproportionately take votes from the Democrats and allow the Republican to win with just the basic coalition of conservatives? (Ala Tim Pawlenty in 2002, where he won with just 44% of the vote, and 2006 where he won with just 47% of the vote).
Don’t personally get why people are down on MAK. She looks like a young woman who has the potential to be a strong star for the DFL. She’s been a State House leader during a period of massive DFL gains, (that didn’t translate into a similarly large Presidential margin for Obama, partially because he never really campaigned to rack up votes), and she has connections to both the Blue Earth county area and Hennepin county.
I wish remember the results of the last no-Rasmussen poll for this race:
M Dayton 41% N Coleman 31%
M Dayton 41% M Seifert 25%
M A Kelliher 33% N Coleman 31%
Unfortunately we have not no-Rasmussen numbers for Emmer.
I think this race looks so good for win.
is their convention like the DFL one where it’s not an official nomination but an endorsement with a primary in august, or a true nomination? Furthermore, if it is an endorsement and emmer’s turns out to be a dud will anyone attempt to run in the primary?
Emmer said:
http://www.marshallindependent…
It’ll be interesting to see how he positions himself in the general, especially with the likelihood of a moderate-conservative Independence Party candidate (which might sweep-up the center that Emmer might otherwise try to tilt towards to get more support).