Entenza pretends he's in a competitive race

[Minnesota Raindog]

Matt Entenza's latest campaign e-mail brags about his showing in the caucus straw poll last week:

March 10th, 2006

Friends,

We’ve had a good week.

On Tuesday night, over 26,000 Minnesotans participated in precinct caucuses, the strongest non-Presidential election year turnout since 1982. The party conducted a straw poll, asking participants to cast a ballot for their preferred candidate in the statewide races. Over 82% voted for me, the largest percentage of any statewide candidate.

I’m tremendously gratified by the result. 82% means over four out five of the Democrats polled support me for Attorney General. For more detailed results, please visit the Minnesota Democratic Party’s website (www.dfl.org)...


However, there's a minor omission in Entenza's reporting: He was unopposed in the straw poll! That means 18% of caucus attendees who expressed a preference for attorney general chose "other," or wrote in someone else. And that 18% doesn't even include the 2,000-plus who didn't select either Entenza or "Other/Undecided," which could push the "Anybody but Entenza" vote to 26% or higher. That's pathetic for an unopposed candidate.

If Entenza perceives this to be proof of a groundswell of support for his candidacy, he's even a bigger phony than I thought he was.

Like Paul Wellstone used to say: We can do better.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. I just got called by someone reading from a script and asking for $100

for the Entenza campaign. (cough-cough-choke-choke)

When I demurred and said that I hadn't decided whom to give my political contributions to this year, the caller went on and said something, "Oh, we understand. Do you think we could count on you for $40 or $50?"

Uh....no.

[dflprincess]

2. I got one like that only it was from Klobuchar's campaign

When she first asked for $100 I told her no, I'm supporting Ford Bell. - So then she asked for $50! I made myself clearer by saying "I'm supporting ANOTHER candidate." Apparently, there's nothing in the script for this possibility because the poor thing just started stammering (and didn't ask for $25 like they normally do after you've said no to $100 or $50.) She finally said "Oh, ummm have a good night." I really felt kind of bad for her.

[katinmn]

3. Hee hee.

I'm support ANOTHER candidate. :)

[trillin]

4. I don't get it

And that "other candidate" is who?

The Republcian Jeff Johnson?

Cause a union busting, right wing Republcian is better right?

Time to get over it

[Minnesota Raindog]

5. Time for Entenza to get over it

The only reason that jerk is the presumed DFL nominee is because he's the ONLY candidate. So what to do? Support anybody but Hatch for governor, send Hatch back to the AG office and send Entenza home.

Or do you want a liar for an attorney general?

[trillin]

6. I Still Don't Get It

I have been reading posts for a long time "Raindog" and have yet to see any of your proof of him being a liar. From what I have seen, you just don't like him and will say whatever you have too to make others not like him.

He is a liar? Prove it.

[Minnesota Raindog]

9. Go ask the MN Human Rights Dept.

Entenza lied to a bunch of caucus employees that he sacked after becoming minority leader in 2002 when he claimed their jobs were being eliminated and then proceeded to replace them with campaign workers and other hacks. Many were long-time employees with more seniority than those retained. It got him at least a couple of human rights complaints filed against him and the caucus. His behavior should outrage any labor union, but legislative employees are not covered by civil service or unions. Unfortunately, the DFL loves Entenza's (and his wife's) checkbook too much to abandon him.

[indigo32]

7. Actually she was talking about Ford Bell

and the Senate race.
As for Matt Entenza... I'll let MNRaindog answer that question.

[dflprincess]

8. Yes, I was.

But I will say, I have problems with Entenza because of his wife's job with UnitedHealth Group - I see the potential for a real conflict of interest there.

I've only spoken to him personally once. It was shortly after I was laid off. At the time, I didn't know where his wife worked. So, I was telling him how my severance package had only included one week of the more than two weeks of PTO I had banked. Some of my fellow employees who were laid off at the same time got all of their PTO because they live in states where the law requires victims of corporate greed be paid for their banked hours. Minnesota has no such law. He actually seemed interested in this but then he asked me where I had worked. When I told him UHG, he couldn't get away from me fast enough.