Political Party

Coleman tops GOP gov candidates in new poll

 

Even though he has not announced plans to run, former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman topped other GOP candidates running for governor in a new poll. A Rasmussen Reports poll founds that Coleman would get 50 percent support from likely Republican voters in the state.

That gives Coleman a sizable lead over the other contenders. State Rep. Marty Seifert, who stepped down as House Minority Leader to run for governor, comes in second with 11 percent support. State Rep. Laura Brod, who has not ruled out running for governor, received 5 percent of the vote. State Rep. Tom Emmer got 1 percent. Republican voters backing other candidates amounted to 7 percent.

One of the most interesting numbers in the poll is that 26 percent of GOP voters are undecided. That could leave the door open for a new candidate -— especially if Coleman opts not to run. It begs the question whether Commissioner of Labor and Industry Steve Sviggum might toss his hat in the ring. The former House Speaker found out that federal law prohibited him from running for office while keeping his day job. But he left open the possibility of stepping down and running for office closer to the election.

Among DFL candidates, former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak tied for the top spot, each netting 30 percent of the vote from likely Democratic voters. House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher got 8 percent and former state House Minority Leader Matt Entenza received 6 percent. Another 5 percent prefer a different candidate and 20 percent are undecided.

Here is a link to the poll results.

Kelliher touts her rural roots

House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher today headed back to the family farm in Mankato to announce her candidacy for governor in 2010. The Minneapolis DFLer is clearly trying to position herself as a candidate that understands rural issues.

An eight-minute video posted on her campaign Web site devotes plenty of time to Kelliher's childhood on the family farm. It features family video of her riding horses and cleaning cows. Her mom also vouches for Kelliher's work ethic, noting her daughter had to feed the cows and clean the pens. The video also shows images of Kelliher's children suited up for hockey and her husband says, "We think we need to take the label hockey mom back" — a clear reference to former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

In the video, Kelliher emphasizes the importance of education when it comes to Minnesota's future. She says the state cannot afford to have "an opportunity gap" between rural and metro Minnesota. She also takes some digs at current Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

"The way that (the session) ended is exactly why I am running for governor because no Minnesota governor should walk away from negotiations with the legislature or turn their back on Minnesota," she said.

It will be interesting to see if this focus on her rural roots ends up winning her support in outstate Minnesota. The Republican Party of Minnesota has jumped on Kelliher's attempt to appeal to outstate Minnesota. The party sent out a press release entitled "Kelliher not fooling anyone with Mankato makeover."

The party chairman Tony Sutton is quoted in the release as saying, "As an out of touch Minneapolis liberal, Kelliher has voted to raise the gas tax, the metro wide sales tax and income taxes. People in Greater Minnesota and the suburbs need to be aware of this tax and spend wolf in sheep's clothing." 

MAK makes it official, bat bites GOP gubernatorial candidate

Plenty of campaign news today. First off, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher plans to officially announce she is running for governor on Wednesday at a picnic on her family farm in Mankato.

The Minneapolis DFLer will face plenty of competition for the nomination. Other candidates who have announced or are expected to announce include Sen. Tom Bakk, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, former House Minority Leader Matt Entenza, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, former Sen. Steve Kelley, Sen. John Marty, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, Rep. Tom Rukavina and Rep. Paul Thissen.

Meanwhile, there is a bizarre story being reported by the Star Tribune. Apparently Sen. Michael Jungbauer, a Republican candidate for governor, was bit in the face by a bat. The bat attacked Jungbauer while he was putting a car in his shed on Sunday night.The senator from East Bethel has already had to undergo eight rabies shots and five more still need to be done. Yikes! Here's a link to the story.

Reaction to unallotment? DFL gov candidates say "Pick me!"

Soon after Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced $2.7 billion in unallotments yesterday, DFL gubernatorial hopefuls began swarming media outlets with reactions.

Candidate Matt Entenza went so far as to announce he would be flying to Rochester this morning to voice his concerns about the unallotment. In a news release, he says these cuts will lead to higher local property taxes.

"This is part of a pattern the governor has engaged in since he took office: claiming to be a steward of the state budget while passing off costs to our communities," Entenza said.

Meanwhile, another candidate who happened to be visiting Rochester Tuesday night to discuss health reform made sure to get his reaction out via e-mail.

"The governor's action is in line with his recent veto of the anti-bullying bill. Tim Pawlenty has become the schoolyard bully; he is picking on the sickest, most vulnerable people in our state," said Sen. John Marty, of Roseville.

House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, of Minneapolis, who is considering a run, issued an e-mail statement soon after the announcement. Meanwhile, another possible candidate --  Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak -- traveled to the state Capitol yesterday to offer his opinion. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, who is also eying a potential run, was interviewed on MPR's Midmorning show.

 

Lawmakers suprised by local GOP leader's outburst

Bruce Kaskubar, co-chair of the Republican Party of Olmsted County, created a stir this morning at a legislative forum in Rochester.

At one point, Kaskubar jumped up from his seat and interrupted DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher.

Kelliher had been telling those gathered at the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce event that the state needs to be more fiscally responsible. She then took a shot at Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

"I have to tell you that it shocks me that we have had a chief executive willing to lead the state in a way that takes us down the path of further fiscal irresponsibility. We actually need to get back to balanced budgets in a two-year cycle to keep the promises to Minnesotans, keeping the promises to our students, to our senior citizens and the the taxpayers. And that is the thing that we most need in the state," she said.

That is when Kaskubar jumped up and in a loud voice said, "State spending in this state has gone up 60 percent since 2000."

He added, "How can you listen to this nonsense?"

He made the comments over a plea of "sir" from the chamber's moderator John Eckerman to get him to sit down.

The outburst stood out in what is a traditionally very formal event with participants required to write down their questions instead of asking them directly. After the event, Anderson Kelliher joked that she expects such outbursts when she is on the Iron Range, but is not used to that in Rochester. She then said she believed his budget numbers were a "little off."

It's unclear where Kaskubar got his numbers. I will look into that. He did do a recent budget analysis on the local GOP's Web site.