Minnesotans: What Dems are likely to run for Senate with Dayton out?

[WI_DEM]

and who do you think would be the strongest candidate? Who are the Republicans likely to run?

[katinmn]

1. We are in shock. give us a few, huh?

[hermetic]

2. Excuse me?

Dayton's not out, unless I just missed something. Jesse Ventura may run.

[WI_DEM]

3. I hope he is not out

I hope every media outlet in Mn has it wrong.

[Oreo]

4. you missed something

terrible news

[Worst Username Ever]

5. I'm not sure if I'd prefer Hatch for govenor or senate.

[katinmn]

10. Governor = Hatch

[stevedeshazer]

6. Franken? n/t

[no name no slogan]

23. OH GOD NO!!!!

We've already had a celebrity politician in this state (Gov. Jesse Ventura)-- we do NOT need another one.

Franken has name recognition, but he's pretty wishy-washy on many issues, unfortunately. He was on ClearChannel's bandwagon early for the Iraq war, and is not much for economic populism.

He's a good Democratic, IMHO, but not a GREAT one. And we need a GREAT one to win in 2006.

[mzmolly]

28. Erlandson?

:shrug:

[SaveElmer]

7. Alan Page

If the DFL could convince him...would win easily!!!

[WI_DEM]

8. Is he the State Supreme Court Justice?

[SaveElmer]

12. Yes and an NFL MVP with the Vikings

Supreme Court races are non-partisan, but it is pretty well known that Page's sympathies are with the DFL.

They have tried to get him to run befoe and he has refused...but your never know...worth a try!

[katinmn]

27. Many Repub males could never vote against a VIKING

I imagine he is being courted as we speak.

[Worst Username Ever]

9. Do you have a bio on Page?

I am not familiar with him...

[Davis_X_Machina]

11. State Supreme Court justice...

...and former Minnesota Vikings great.

[Oreo]

13. http://www.alanpage.org/

http://www.alanpage.org/

"When we cannot trust the judiciary and we have no confidence in due process, then we are well on our way to settling our differences in the streets. Without due process and the fairness it ensures, America will become like those countries across the globe where the rule of law simply cannot compete with the rule of power or the rule of fear.

We must preserve judicial impartiality and independence because these are principles essential to our system of government, which has been so carefully crafted. Not for the sake of judges, but for the sake of ensuring fairness."

-Justice Alan C. Page addressing the National Press Club

[WI_DEM]

15. I think Page would be the ideal candidate.

[SaveElmer]

17. Yes he would

But he has been approached in the past and declined...they should try again however!

[CBHagman]

14. Will the Wellstone brothers consider it?

They may want to work in other ways, but I would be keen to see if either Mark or David would take the plunge...

[MNDEM2004]

33. I think it would be great.

No mention at this time.

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. What happened??? What happened to/with Mark Dayton???

Did he say he wasn't going to run for re-election? If so, WHY???? I LOVE that guy. He always says it like it is. He's a good man. What happened?

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. Not "the best candidate to lead the DFL Party to victory next year"

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn., said today that he will not run for re-election in 2006.

Dayton made the announcement this afternoon in a telephone conference call with reporters.


"I do not believe that I am the best candidate to lead the DFL Party to victory next year,'' Dayton said.

The senator made a brief statement and took no questions.

He called it ''a tremendous honor to serve Minnesota in the past four years.’’ He said he wanted to keep the seat in Democratic hands and said he cannot do the necessary fundraising to run an effective campaign.

more: http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5231507.html

[Cha]

18. What happened?

I've gotten calls from Minnesota to help re-elect Mark Dayton in the past..what has changed?!!

[in_cog_ni_to]

19. I love Google. He's not running again.

:cry: Crap. Here's a link.

http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_040125120.html

[Cha]

20. Thanks..I was too much in shock too

even think about google. And I love it too.

That's too bad "he does not have a base of donors to fall back on."

You would think the brilliant people in Minnesota and the Country would try and make sure he had enough money..but I know it's tough against the fascist wing machine.

Bless his heart..he's worked so hard for us. Wonder what he'll do now?

[no name no slogan]

22. I got a call earlier this week for an 'organizing' meeting

I got a voicemail from his campaign on Monday or Tuesday about an organizing meeting to take place this week. I guess that one's off.

It's funny, because Dayton spoke at the DFL State Central Committee meeting last Saturday, and was raring and ready to go for 2006. He did not speak like a man who was retiring from the Senate.

If the DFL can get Alan Page to run, we'll keep the seat. Otherwise, it's anybody's guess at this point.

[Cha]

24. Thanks! Sounds like it was a

very sudden decision..

I don't know Alan Page but he must be good.

Okay..I'm over my shock now..I just googled him and lo and behold!

Football..all American, Afro-American! Great! Hope he considers serving his country in this way!

[SaveElmer]

25. Early talk on replacement...not a stellar lineup if you ask me

I guess Luther would be the most formidible of this group

<snip>

Among the names that immediately surfaced as potential candidates were: Minneapolis lawyer Mike Ciresi, Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, state Sen. Steve Kelley of Hopkins, Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar and former U.S. Rep. Bill Luther. Ciresi and Kelley both ran in 2000, when Dayton won the party's nomination.


<snip

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5231670.html

No mention of Page!!!

[no name no slogan]

26. Klobuchar would be AWESOME

Ciresi is too much the stereotypical "limousine liberal lawyer", and Luther is just too controversial right now (why does he still have a re-election committee in place when the last time he ran for office was in 2002?).

I could see Amy Klobuchar stepping up for it. She's a prosecutor, a solid DFLer, and has name recognition. I think she'd be great. :)

[katinmn]

29. I like Amy Klobuchar, too

And it's pretty clear where her leanings are. She's with us!

I heard on one of the AA programs the other day. She always sounds really sharp.

[Josh]

30. Mondale.

Come on!!!

[katinmn]

31. Which one?

[iwantmycountryback]

32. What happened to Dayton??!!

Sorry I'm out of the loop.

[Eric J in MN]

34. His approval rating was 43 percent and

rightwingers were ranting about how terribe it was that during a Winter recess, he told his Washington staff they could work in MN due to a terrorist threat in Washington.