Lining up to run against Dayton

[Dickie Flatt]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5199386.html

Sen. Mark Dayton's job is suddenly getting very popular. ...

"A lot of folks are focusing on him ... because he is vulnerable," said Ron Eibensteiner, chairman of the Minnesota Republican Party. "I believe he is very out of step with Minnesota voters. His closing of the office was silly. That's the best way I can describe it. And it didn't sit very well with people in Minnesota." He said that Dayton's decision amounted to "cutting and running." ...

"I saw what they did to Tom Daschle at the end," Dayton said. "They just buried him in sewage. And I saw what they did to my friend, Max Cleland, in 2002 in the last two weeks, where they put a man who lost three limbs in Vietnam up on a television ad with Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden and said, 'Here are three enemies of the people of Georgia.' And they defeated him. So I have no illusions about how vicious and how politically powerful and how well-funded the whole right-wing extremist movement will be and how it will be used against me." ...

"There's absolutely no question that this is going to be a hard-fought race," said Mike Erlandson, chair of the Minnesota DFL Party. He said that Dayton remains as popular in public opinion polls as Pawlenty and that Minnesotans appreciate his independent, straight-shooting style and the fact that "he doesn't talk out of both sides of his mouth."

[David Dunham]

1. Mark Dayton is a very good Senator.

[wellst0nev0ter]

2. Heheh, Ronnie Should Stick To Humming The Taxpayers League

"I believe he is very out of step with Minnesota voters.

last time I checked, Minnesota's a BLUE state while you and your minions are adamantly out of the mainstream right here in my state.

Also leave it to a Republican not to take a terror threat seriously.

[mirror wall]

6. MN is more bruised purplish than blue.

The red taint is spreading northward. Just glance down at our corn fed neighbors in IA. Not a comforting sight. While Kerry had a comparatively comfortable victory here, and the state houses both went mostly blue, I'd not rest on my laurels in regards to MN remaining blue forever. We're an, erm, odd and somewhat unpredictable electorate. Remember Ventura? Heh.

I had totally forgotten about the whole dayton-evacuating-his-office thing. Damn. That's gonna be hard to counter when the Repub spin machine kicks into action amoung people who don't pay close attention to politics. Also, the persistent rumors about Dayton's infidelities could be used as a club. And that whole silver spoon issue. I guess the poor guy really is pretty vulnerable.

Even though i haven't been entirely happy with him on every single thing he's ever voted on EVER, I should probably bite the bullet and call his office to see when they're gonna start needing doorknockers. Also, he SAID he would vote against Condi's confirmation. If he did that, I'd count it as canceling out that idiotic speech he made during the confirmation of the electoral votes. Overall, he's been very good. Not Wellstone good, but pretty good nonetheless.

[Dickie Flatt]

11. dayton's infidelities

more information please?

[Carolab]

3. I will support Dayton. n/t

[MidwestTransplant]

4. I said at the time that his closing of his office was going to be a HUGE

problem. But I am sure most others did too.

[saltpoint]

5. I see Dayton on C-Span now and then and he strikes me --

-- as somebody who "gets it" when it comes to public service. He's the heir of a large fortune and doesn't need to be in the U.S. Senate.

For all I know the office closing was prompted by a Rove-planted rumor that Dayton was being targeted, for the sole purpose of making him look like a wuss to his constituents.

Given that the GOP recruits people like Norm Coleman up there, I think I'd go with Mark Dayton, hands-down.

[leesa]

7. They found their "silly issue" to focus on...closing the office

Republicans are such nasty, petty, greedy people. Dayton will need our help.

[w4rma]

8. Dayton is one of the best, most honest Senators in the U.S. Senate. (nt)

[rodeodance]

9. and watch silly (stupid) follow this line of reasoning!!! good grief!!

[EFerrari]

10. Same old tired cr$p

"out of step", "cut and run", silly = unstable, telling the people how they reacted.

Everyone is vulnerable. The idea is to take these hacks head on.