Why do so many think Wellstone would have beaten Coleman?

[Some Moran]

I find it unfathomable that Wellstone supporters voted for Coleman (who's not as evil as most Repukes because he's anti-RIAA) over Minnesota's 2nd most well-loved politician of all time.

[maha]

1. Wellstone was pulling ahead in the polls at the time of his death.

It was still close, but at the time it was a big ray of hope.

[Some Moran]

3. Were there any vote fraud allegations?

Just curious...

[maha]

8. Not that I recall n/t

[Classical_Liberal]

2. polls

. Most voters aren't partisans.

[boxster]

16. You're joking, right?

Because you certainly can't believe that.

[goobergunch]

4. Polls Taken Before Wellstone Died

Coleman 37% Wellstone 46% Moore (Ind) 6% Tricomo (G) 1% Zogby        10/9-11  4.5%
Coleman 41% Wellstone 47% Moore (Ind) 4% Tricomo (G) 1% Star Tribune 10/11-16 3%

http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/2002/MNPollOld.htm

[jiacinto]

5. Wellstone was in position to win

He was still leading.

[JI7]

6. wellstone and mondale would beaten him

wellstone was ahead in the polls and would have beat coleman. mondale was ahead also if not for the whore media. the whore media used the wellstone memorial to attack democrats. you have to understand that not all who vote for a candidate are big fans of the candidate. they vote based on how they feel at the moment rather than on ideas. this applies to those who need to watch a debate to decide who to support(i don't include democratic primary debates because the differences are not as clear as ones between gop and dems so some do need the debates to determine who to support and just who they think could beat the gop). so these people bought into the whore media and voted coleman. coleman also lied about how he was not going to campaign while getting that whore newt to campaign for him. and coleman was campaigning. his ass was on every fucking tv show talking about how his ass wont campaign trying to act like so good noble person. the whore media let him get away with this.

[Classical_Liberal]

7. I think mondale lost because he was old and hadn't been

active in politics for years. he may have been the best Minnesota could offer but that is a sad reflection on DFL candidate recruitement.

[JI7]

9. like wellstone, mondale was ahead

until the media started the crap about the wellstone memorial.

[jiacinto]

10. Also the memorial service played a role

I don't want to get into a lengthy flame war here, but I think the perceived "partisan tone" of the Wellstone service (whether it actually was or not partisan is not the issue, but rather the perception that it was is--because that is what mattered) created a backlash that enabled Pawlenty and the Republicans to win almost everything there that year.

[GinaMaria]

15. the perception came from

the right wing media. They exagerated a handful of people booing lott for less than 30 seconds of a 3 hour memorial. They turned the memorial service of the people who died in that plane into a political hatchet job. Unforgivable, imo.

[boxster]

13. Old? Old didn't stop Lautenberg, another late entry, from winning...

in New Jersey. And, if you think old doesn't win, take a look at Congress.

Regarding recruitment, are you forgetting that MN Dems had no time whatsoever to choose a candidate? It's not like each political party has candidates lined up just in case there's a plane crash.

[JI7]

14. yup

because of the short time they had to pick someone who already had name recognition. there was no time to pick someone unknown and get people to learn about them. and totally right about lautenberg. he won big as mondale would have if not for the whore media.

[Brucey]

11. Wellstone would have won.

Coleman is sleaze at it's worst. Coleman looks good and uses the media brilliantly. Minnesota is not as liberal as it's image. There have been many repug governors, senators, and representatives over the years. Minnesota, like a lot of states, is becoming more conservative, driven by radio, TV, and movies. George Gerbner has studied media (especially TV) more than anyone, and found that heavy TV viewers tend to be conservative, though they are unaware of their political beliefs. This, I believe, is happening nationwide. Coleman tricked a lot of people into thinking that he was okay. Now, of course, we see him switching on a number of issues, such as oil drilling, vouchers, and Cuba. Voters don't get it that candidates will normally support their party (particularly with Bush in office because he is so intimidating). I hate Coleman and Pawlenty, but many Minnesotans love them because they promise not to raise taxes. Minnesota has big budget problems because of Ventura and Pawlenty. Coleman got a good reputation as mayor of St. Paul because he kept telling people how great he was doing and the media reported it with nary a criticism. In fact, Minneapolis with a Democratic mayor beat St. Paul with Coleman in every category, including new businesses. Well, that's it. One year ago I cried my eyes out when my friend Paul Wellstone and others died. I had just talked with his daughter the day before. A really good politician, maybe the last one for a long time, is gone.

[JNelson6563]

12. AS an aside, Keendy was suppose to

be on that plane, coulda been a two-fer! Damn!!

Julie