Political Notebook

Quie endorses Demmer

Randy Demmer's congressional campaign got a big boost on Thursday with news that former Minnesota Gov. Al Quie was endorsing him. The announcement comes two days before the First District Republican Convention where the GOP is expected to endorse a candidate to take on Democratic Congressman Tim Walz in November.

In the letter, Quie praises the Hayfield representative's work in the Minnesota House. He writes, "Randy is the rare politician who doesn’t bend with the political winds, but instead approaches each and every decision with the same criteria in mind — what will best serve the people of my district and the greater good of Minnesota and our nation."

Here is a link to Quie's letter.

Four other candidates will be vying for the endorsement Saturday in Mankato. They are National Guard veteran Jim Engstrand, former congressional staff Jim Hagedorn, Army veteran Frank McKinzie and former state Rep. Allen Quist.

Emmer and Seifert square off in Rochester

 
Republican gubernatorial candidates Tom Emmer and Marty Seifert are set to debate this evening in Rochester on day before the Olmsted County GOP Convention. There is plenty at stake for both candidates, with Olmsted County boasting the second highest number of delegates in the state.

Emmer announced two big endorsements today in advance of tonight's forum. Former GOP Congressman Vin Weber and Republican National Committeeman Brian Sullivan announced their support for Emmer. Here is a link to the announcement on Emmer's Web site. He also has 18 endorsements from state lawmakers including Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, and Rep. Tim Kelly, R-Red Wing.

Seifert also made news this week with the announcement that Sen David Hann of Eden Prairie is backing him. Hann recently dropped out of the governor's race.

During the GOP caucuses, Seifert dominated in Olmsted County beating Emmer by a 2 to 1 margin in the gubernatorial straw poll. He has also secured a lengthy list of local GOP backers. They include former Rochester state Rep. Fran Bradley, Olmsted County Republicans Co-chair Bruce Kaskubar, former state Rep. Carla Nelson, former 1st Congressional District Republicans Chair Duane Quam and former state Senate candidate Dr. Scott Wright.

It will be interesting to see what kind of a reception they each get tonight. The event kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Ramada Inn and Convention Center in Rochester. Also on hand will be candidates for the 1st Congressional District seat --  Randy Demmer, Jim Engstrand, Jim Hagedorn, Frank McKinzie and Allen Quist. State GOP Chair Tony Sutton, former Congressman Gil Gutknecht and state Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem are also expected to attend.

Another GOPer officially announces run for Walz's seat

Pine Island veteran Jim Engstrand officially announced today he will seek the Republican endorsement for the 1st Congressional District Seat.

Engstrand returned from Iraq less than a month ago, where he served as the Lt. Col. in the Minnesota Army National Guard. In a news release, he said he felt compelled to run for the seat held by Democrat Tim Walz out of frustration that Walz continues to support President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's programs despite opposition within his home district.

Here is a quote from his news release:

"While serving in Iraq, I became very troubled when I learned what was happening back home.  The Country I love was becoming divided over issues like terrorism, healthcare, freedom, government spending, and middle class tax hikes.  From the other side of the world, I watched Americans begin to push back with Tea Parties and massive healthcare rallies on the steps of the U. S. Capitol.  Even so, President Obama and Congress continued to advance their agenda, showing little regard for what Americans actually wanted.  When I saw Tim Walz supporting Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi with every vote, even though there was strong opposition from his constituents back home, I knew Minnesotans deserved better.  At that point I realized I needed to continue serving my Country, only this time it would be in the U.S. House of Representatives instead of a military uniform."

Engstrand joins four others vying for the GOP endorsement. They are state Rep. Randy Demmer, of Hayfield, former congressional staffer Jim Hagedorn, of Blue Earth, veteran Frank McKinzie of Rochester and former state Rep. Allen Quist of St. Peter.

Two other candidates are also running. They include U.S. State Department employee Steven Wilson of Rochester, who is running for the Independence Party nomination. He formerly ran as a Republican against fellow Republican Steve Drazkowski for the Minnesota Senate, winning the GOP endorsement but losing in the primary to Drazkowski.

Also running is food safety certification trainer Lars Johnson, of Rochester, who is running independent of any party.

It's precinct caucus day

Tonight is the big night for precinct caucus events across Minnesota. Most attention will likely be focused on the straw poll for governor being held by both Republicans and Democrats. While the poll is not binding, it is an early indicator of which candidates have the backing of party members.

A total of about 30 candidates are seeking the office of governor. I expect many gubernatorial candidates will make a personal stop in Rochester to address caucusgoers in person. I know for sure that DFL gubernatorial candidate Tom Rukavina will be in town. Not sure who else at this point.

On the Republican side of the aisle, it will also be a chance to determine what sort of support the Republican candidates for the 1st Congressional District have. At this point, four people are officially running -- Randy Demmer, Jim Hagedorn, Frank McKinzie and Allen Quist.

Republicans are hosting a candidate forum at 6 p.m. at Mayo High School tonight to give voters a chance to  hear from the candidates directly.

The caucuses are also a chance for voters to prepare resolutions for the party platform and to elect delegates.

In Rochester, the Democrats will hold caucuses at two locations — Willow Creek Middle School and Century High School. The Green Party will caucus at the Rochester Public Library. The Independence Party will caucus at the Heintz Center on the RCTC campus. Republicans will gather at Mayo High School.

To figure out your precinct and the correct caucus location, go to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Caucus Finder here.

Republican 1CD candidates lag in fundraising

Here is a quick look at the fourth quarter campaign reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. It shows that incumbent Democrat Tim Walz has a decisive advantage over his GOP challengers when it comes to money. Here is the breakdown.

Allen Quist, of St. Peter, leads among the Republican candidates with $32,853 in contributions. He has $30,781 on hand. He also loaned his campaign $4,000.

GOPer Randy Demmer, of Hayfield, raised $19,200 and has $10,176 on hand.

Republican Jim Hagedorn only raised $5,150 and had cash in hand of $5,105. The fourth GOP candidate, Frank McKinzie, has yet to establish a federal campaign committee.

Compare the Republican fundraising hauls to Walz's war chest. He raised $237,941 in the fourth quarter and has $421,203 in cash on hand.

Just out of curiosity, I looked at the fundraising totals for Republican candidate Brian Davis, who unsuccessfully challenged Walz for the seat in 2008. At this point in the campaign, Davis had nearly $80,000 in cash on hand. But it is worth noting that when Walz won the seat in 2006, he had $40,309 on hand at this point in the campaign.

Bachmann to join Quist in Rochester Town Hall

Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann heads to Rochester on Monday in a big show of support for 1st Congressional District Candidate Allen Quist. 

Bachmann will join Quist at a health care town hall from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Ramada Inn in Rochester. Also joining in the forum is GOP Congressman Michael Burgess of Texas, a doctor originally from Rochester. Quist is among four Republicans vying for the chance to take on Democratic Congressman Tim Walz.

This could prove to be a big boost for Quist among the Conservative wing of the party given Bachmann's support among the Tea Party Movement and her ability to draw media attention. The visit comes at a critical time — one day before the state caucuses, a key step in determining the delegates for the state GOP convention.

Quist does have a personal connection with Bachmann. His wife, Julie, heads Bachmann's Minnesota office.

Other candidates hoping to get the GOP endorsement include House Assistant Minority Leader Randy Demmer, of Hayfield; former Congressional staffer Jim Hagedorn of Blue Earth and former Army Sgt. Frank McKinzie of Rochester.

Prior to the town hall forum, there will be a fundraising luncheon in Quist's honor. Burgess will be the keynote speaker for that event.

At the town hall, Bachmann is expected to discuss a "Declaration of Health Care Freedom." Those principles include her call that the process of health care reform be transparent and that it not add to costs. For more on that proposal, here is a link to a Star Tribune article. 

Wade is out, Mayo Civic Center gets boost and more

I suppose it is a truism that inevitably the day you are off is when political news breaks. So here is an update on just some of the news items.

First off, Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce President John Wade put an end to speculation that he would seek the Republican endorsement for the 1st Congressional District. Wade said in a statement that "While honored by the support and invitation of many of my friends and colleagues, I will neither pursue nor accept the Republican Party's endorsement." Here is the story.That leaves four Republicans vying for the nomination to run against Democratic Congressman Tim Walz. They are House Assistant Minority Leader Randy Demmer, former congressional staffer Jim Hagedorn, Army veteran Frank McKinzie and former state Rep. Allen Quist.

Meanwhile, Rochester's quest for $34 million in state bonding money to expand the Mayo Civic Center got a boost yesterday. Rep. Alice Hausman, who chairs the House Capital Investment Finance Division Committee, said she is "very positively inclined" to support Rochester's request. Here's the story.

Walz also visited with high school students yesterday in Rochester. He talked about health care reform and the war in Afghanistan. Here is that story.

Quist thrust into the national spotlight for terrorism comments

Republican Allen Quist is getting plenty of national attention thanks to a YouTube video taken of him at a Wabasha County GOP Christmas Party event.

The video began to get national attention after The Minnesota Independent posted it on its Web site. In the video, Quist says that liberal radicals pose a greater threat to the country than terrorism. In the video Quist, a candidate for Democratic Rep. Tim Walz's seat, says the following:

"This is our fight and this is our time. This is it. Terrorism yes, but that is not the big battle. The big battle is in D.C. with the radicals. They aren’t liberals, they are radicals. Obama, Pelosi, Walz —  they are not liberals, they are radicals. They are destroying our country and people all over are figuring that out."

The video aired last night on MSNBC liberal talk show host Rachel Maddow's show. She used it as an example of the wrong way for Republicans to use terrorism to benefit their campaigns.

"It does matter how you do it and if you are saying things like 'I hate Democrats more than I hate al Qaeda,' I am pretty sure you are not doing it right," Maddow said.

The battle for the Republican endorsement in the 1st Congressional District has been getting plenty of media attention. Another candidate, Jim Hagedorn of Blue Earth, Minn., drew attention for blog posts he later removed from his Web site. I wrote about that earlier. Other candidates include Assistant House Minority Leader Randy Demmer and retired Army veteran Frank McKinzie of Rochester.