Political Notebook

Marty, Walz, Hagedorn and more

It is proving to be a busy political day already. DFL gubernatorial candidate John Marty picked a fellow state senator as his running mate. Marty announced today that his pick is Sen. Patricia Torres Ray of Minneapolis. She is the first Latina to be elected to the Minnesota Senate. For more information about here, go the campaign Web site.

The only other gubernatorial candidate to announce a running mate so far has been Republican state Rep. Marty Seifert. He picked Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah. It will be interesting to see how many other candidates opt to make their picks before next month's state conventions.

MinnPost also has a story looking at congressional earmarks. It includes a list of the 25 largest earmark requests. Included on that list are several requests for area projects made by 1st District Rep. Tim Walz. Here is the story.

Also, some liberal bloggers are reporting that 1st District GOP candidate Jim Hagedorn has sent out an e-mail saying that fellow GOP candidate Allen Quist is too close to Bachmann. The Minnesota Independent and Bluestem Prairie. 

During Bachmann's visit on Monday to Rochester, I asked her if she planned to endorse anyone before the 1st District Republican Convention on April 17. She said she is not going to endorse anyone. But while addressing members of the Rochester Area Republican Women, she mentioned Quist's name several times in reference to issues he has raised with the Democrats' health reform bill. She did not mention any other GOP congressional candidates. Quist's wife, Julie Quist, serves as Bachmann's district director.

Entenza and Thissen to court Olmsted DFL voters

Two DFL gubernatorial candidates will be in Rochester tomorrow for the Olmsted County DFL convention.

Former House Minority Leader Matt Entenza, of St. Paul, and state Rep. Paul Thissen, of Minneapolis, will make their pitch to delegates. A representative for Sen. John Marty, of Roseville, will also be at the convention.

There is plenty at stake for candidates hoping to win the party's endorsement. Olmsted County boasts one of the largest pool of delegates in the state. Given that, it is interesting that only two of the dozen DFL gubernatorial candidates making a visit.

Gubernatorial candidate and current Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak won the Olmsted County DFL Caucus straw poll in February with nearly 23 percent of the vote. But the second place spot with 17 percent of the votes went to "uncommitted." Entenza placed third with more than 13 percent.

1st District Rep. Tim Walz is also expected to speak to the delegates along with Rep. Tina Liebling, Rep. Kim Norton, Rep. Andy Welti and Sen. Ann Lynch. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. at Century High School with the convention starting at 10 a.m. A total of 27 delegates and 27 alternatives will be picked to go to the DFL State Convention in April. Participants will also elect party leadership and vote on 54 resolutions.

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.