In the Republican primary:
Norm Coleman (R): 50
Marty Seifert (R): 11
Laura Brod (R): 5
Tom Emmer (R): 1
Another Candidate: 7
Undecided: 26Margin of Error: (+/- 5.5%)
To show just how much of a strong frontrunner and standard bearer the Minnesota GOP is missing since Tim Pawlenty’s announcement to not run again, the GOP’s top choice is the recently defeated Senator who lost to a comedian by only 300 plus votes, as well as someone who squandered Minnesota’s time and money on a seven month long recount challenge that led to the same result that the state had decided on months prior.
In the Democratic primary, however, things are slightly different:
R.T. Rybak (D): 30
Mark Dayton (D): 30
Margaret Anderson Kelliher (D): 8
Matt Entenza (D): 6
Another Candidate: 5
Undecided: 20Margin of Error (+/- 5%)
So it looks like on the Democratic side a two way fight between former senator Mark Dayton and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. It seems Rybak is the one with the fresh face that the Democrats need to present to voters, but Dayton is the only other candidate who has ever run statewide (see 1982 Senate campaign in Minnesota).
No additional information about what a head to head matchup would look like. But I suspect that Norm Coleman probably wouldn’t be doing so well even against Mark Dayton.
Update: On a more sombering note, while this might be a bit of late news, Norm Coleman confirmed back in September that he was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy. Whether he decides to seek the governorship again or not, let’s wish Norm a speedy recovery.
like it always is. Even if Dayton or Entenza challenges the party ruling, they will lose. The only one who could probably muster enough popular support to take on the party activists is Rybak, and by all accounts he seems willing to abide by their decision.
I really think this is a three person race between Rybak, Dayton, and Keihler, and it may fall along traditional demographic lines the same way Obama/Clinton did. My girlfriend and I are great examples, both party activists, both in our 20’s, and both supporting candidates (Rybak for me, Keihler for her) based probably more on issues of personal identification than anything else, since the top candidates are essentially all running on the same platform.
Turnout is going to play a huge roll in this, which is why Dayton is still a player.
On the one hand, Dayton seems to be more vocally progressive, but he was also pretty erratic in the Senate, and Rybak has already served competently in an executive capacity. Rybak is also young enough to run for President in 2016.
I do like Dayton’s enthusiastic support of single payer thoughm especially considering that Minnesota is one of the states that could pass a bill.