Modern Life in Northern Minnesota
I’ll be posting my interview and campaign analysis for DFL gubernatorial candidate John Marty at noon on Tuesday. I interviewed Sen. Marty last Wednesday but my crazy life has slowed the writing of the story. And then it dawned on me that I wasn’t being paid for any of this. Anyway, my conversation with Marty was compelling and I’ll have some interesting observations in this post. Tuesday at noon.
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I saw people holding John Marty for Governor signs while running down London Road in Duluth during the half marathon on Saturday morning. I’m not sure why he’s running. He has virtually no chance at the DFL nomination and would likely get killed by any likely Republican candidate.
Tune in tomorrow for my various scenarios. You’re right that Marty faces big challenges, but in something this wide open I can’t say he’d be guaranteed to lose to a Republican unless I knew who that Republican was. Like I said, more tomorrow.
Although there are several DFL candidates for MN governor this election, John Marty sure stands out, especially in the state current Governor Pawlenty left Minnesota in. At least John Marty has the guts to stand up for what he believes in. At least he feels that as a leader it is important for him to stand up for every citizen of Minnesota, the poor, the rich, the homosexual, the heterosexual, the uninsured, the insured, and everyone in between. I hope Minnesota has the common sense to vote in a governor like John Marty.
Never fear Michele…if Franken can convince half the voters of Minnesota he best reflects the father figure they’d like for their children, Marty certainly stands a chance.
It’ll be tough for any DFLer to overcome Mark Dayton’s name recognition in the primary. I was always impressed with Susan Gaerttner when she did interviews, but she’s unknown in most parts of the state. I suppose Entenza has a chance since he may be able to compete with Dayton financially. Marty does have a slightly greater chance at the nomination than Ole Savior does.
On the Republican side, we’ll have to see everyone who declares. I’d say Steve Sviggum would probably be the favorite right now since neither Sullivan nor Bachmann are running. If Erik Paulson, Ramstad, or Gil Gutnecht declare, things could change quickly.
So right now the most likely matchup I see is Mark Dayton vs Steve Sviggum. It’ll totally depend on the political landscape in a year and a half on who wins. How popular Obama is, how popular Congress is, etc.
I think Ramstad is the biggest threat on that side. I guess Sviggum would be credentialed and well known, but seems rather underwhelming. I also think that suburban rep Laura Brod is a credible threat as well.
I know someone who says it will be Entenza vs. Brod. You say Sviggum vs. Dayton. In a way, it kind of feels like an NCAA tourney pool right now. 🙂
Ramstad will never get the party endorsement, but he may have somewhat of a chance in a primary depending on everybody who runs. I personally think he’s done enough to rile both fiscal and social conservatives that he wouldn’t stand much of a chance in a primary either. I guess I don’t know too much about Brod at this point. I know Gil Gutnecht always wanted to be governor before he lost his reelection bid for Congress in 2006, but haven’t heard his name mentioned very much.
It’ll likely be like an NCAA tournament pool until at least this time next year.
Brod is not suburban. Check it out. Ramsted would never get the GOP endorsement. They are still out for the most wing nuttery.
Sviggum and Brod look the best so far.
Exurban might have been a better term. And I wouldn’t rule out Bachmann in a primary/endorsement fight on the GOP side. Pat Anderson and Marty Seifert are also in the mix. Like I said, NCAA pool. It’s a mix of past performance mixed with the unknown.