So who's looking like the best DFL candidate for governor so far?

[trotsky]

There sure are a lot of them interested. Marty, Dayton, Entenza, Gaertner, Steve Kelley, Tom Bakk, and a whole slew of rumored candidates. I still think John Marty would make a great governor, but I am intrigued by Bakk. He's certainly got great labor creds, and he understands budgeting and taxes extremely well.

[Minnesota Raindog]

1. Bakk is no friend of the environment

You can thank Tom Bakk for letting the state's public lands be overrun by ATVs--he authored all the exemptions for them to ride cross-country and off established trails. He's been a shill for the mining and timber companies for years. And he never met a big boondoggle project he didn't like as long as it provided a few short-term union jobs (stadiums, megamall, power plants).

[trotsky]

4. Good info on Bakk.

Thanks for that.

[Minnesota Raindog]

6. Read more about Bakk's ATV amendment here

http://www.iwla.org/publications/wilderness/20060819duluthnewssofowlsuit.pdf

And note that it was John Marty who tried to strip it from a parks funding bill.


More on Bakk's dismal environmental record here:

http://www.mnresponsiblerec.org/news/bakkbreaksarmsandlegs.htm

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. I like John Marty, although he may have trouble getting past the DFL establishment

much as Nelson-Pallmeyer did.

Marty was an advisor to the Kucinich campaign and is also a strong advocate of single-payer health care, having gone so far as to co-author a bill that would establish single-payer health care in Minnesota.

[Minnesota Raindog]

3. The DFL Establishment has had it in for John Marty for years

Ever since he took away all the freebies lobbyists used to shower on legislators. But having the DFL Establishment against him is just another reason why he'd make the best candidate.

Also, Marty is not taking ANY money from lobbyists or PACs.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. I just signed up on his Facebook page

:-)

[CatholicEdHead]

9. More than just the DFL primary, but also outstate MN

That is what every DFL candidate has to be looked at, can they get a good showing in outstate Minnesota? Any DFLer has a good chance of winning the inner Twin Cities. Can they do good enough in outstate to get some moderate votes, many of which often go to the Independence Pary. I am predicting another three way race for governor.

[annm4peace]

12. I would support JOhn Marty !

[dflprincess]

14. Marty was at the health care forum I went to last night at Normandale

Not only did he discuss the need for a single payer system - he also mentioned that any system should also cover dental, addiction and mental health coverage.

I like him and agree with the opinion that the establishment dislikes him is a big plus.

[Eric J in MN]

5. I like Mark Dayton.

Susan Gaertner is part of the abuse of protesters of the Republican Convention. So are the mayors who may run.

Mark Dayton was a liberal US Senator who had nothing to do with the Republican Convention.

[trotsky]

8. I really like Mark Dayton.

But I don't think he stands a chance in hell of winning. 'Pukes will bring up his decision to close his Senate office (which I thought was perfectly reasonable and SHOULD have opened a debate on the whole terror warning crap). He'll be swiftboated readily.

[glinda]

10. I really really like Mark Dayton. He is good with budgets too.

[dflprincess]

15. I like Dayton too

and I thought his intention with closing his office was to call the 'Pukes bluff - he did make the point that, if it were so dangerous, why were they leaving their offices open (remember Congress was in recess so none of the members were in D.C.).

But, I just don't know if he can pull it off. Like Marty, I think he makes the establishment grind their teeth and I think it just kills them that they can always depend on Mark for a donation when it's needed. I'm having an awful time deciding who to support, I'm glad the caucuses are still months off.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

19. Agreed (sadly). The will Swiftboat Dayton ...

... probably before the general election if he is doing well running up to the DFL convention. He is a decent, hard-working, honorable person (not the only one among the DFL names, btw) and that scares the Republicans.

[mascarax]

23. I agree w/trotsky on both points

I like Mark Dayton.
He will not win.

No one on the list is exciting to me...and I am definitely not for Entenza. That ship has sailed. Someone needs to tell him (not that he'd listen...well, maybe he'd hire a P.I. to investigate).

[loveable liberal]

11. I'm not impressed with John Marty ....

based on an experience I had with him when I worked for N.S.P.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

13. Are you coming to the picnic?

Then you can tell us about it. :-)

[dflprincess]

16. I heard a few tidbits about how redistricting may go after the 2010 census

(whether or not Bachmann participates) from someone with pretty decent connections that I'll "share" at the picnic. Nothing earth shattering and if we all sat down with a map we might have guessed some of it - but still interesting and possible good news for DFLers in Richfield & Bloomington.

[loveable liberal]

20. I would love to meet all of you and come to the picnic....

Unfortunately, I am unable to attend. Between the balance of work and family, there is no time...

[BlueLakeville]

17. NOT Entenza

I am not entirely sure whom I am going to support; I am down to Bakk or Dayton. Marty has had his chance when he was earned just 34 percent again Carlson, if he was the nominee, then I would vote for him. But the one Democrat that I will never vote for is Matt Entenza. Entenza is a crooked politician who resembles Nixon, investigating his own party members, as he did with Hatch in 2006. (http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/07/13/morehatchentenza/)
He has also been also been fined numerous times including:

On July 9, 2009 – Fined $500 for Taking Donations from a Lobbyist (http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/07/08/entenza_fined/)
In 2004, his group 21st Century Democrats was fined $300k for violating donation laws (http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/12/21_mccalluml_campaignfinance/)
In 2006 – Fined over $28k for accepting donations that exceeded limits (http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/124795/)

Investigated for:
Failing to provide information about 2005 campaign spending (http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/archive/2006/09/entenza_wont_be.shtml)

I know I will not vote for Entenza, but he seems to be picking up quite a few endorsements as of late. I cannot trust him with the states' budget to his ability to follow rules about campaigning. Furthermore list alleged ties to lobbyists and his wife's connection with United Health Care make me question what exactly would change? We need a clean and open politician who will not participate in questionable deals. I am a proud Democrat and have never voted for any other party, but the facts are just too compelling. If Entenza is the nominee, I will NOT vote for him.

[dflprincess]

18. I'm not an Entenza supporter either

However, in fairness, his wife has not been with UHG for quite a while (I would imagine because it wasn't helping his career). I thought she was with Piper Jaffrey now but I was told a few days ago that she's now working with a non-profit. The person I spoke to didn't know which non-profit.

[Minnesota Raindog]

21. United Health millions are still bankrolling Entenza's campaign

His wife took home $30 million-plus in United Health stock options alone, and they've been spreading it around to other DFLers over the years in anticipation of future endorsements needed. Money talks, and the Entenza-Quam family has bought a lot of favors.

[trotsky]

22. Well that must explain the Ellison endorsement.

I was quite disappointed in that.

[camera obscura]

24. I wish Rybak would run

he'd make a great candidate and an even better governor.

[Minnesota Raindog]

25. Blog of the Moderate Left has had some good stuff on the race lately

Particularly with regard to Entenza...

http://moderateleft.com/?p=5532

http://moderateleft.com/?p=5539

http://moderateleft.com/?p=5546

Apparantly some feel that Entenza already has it locked up now so we should all get in lockstep behind him.

[dflprincess]

26. The problem is Entenza's money and I fear the DFL leadership will back him

not only because he can finance his own campaign but because they need his wife to keep donating. Beating him will take some real grass roots orgainizing and a good turn out at the caucuses for other candidates (or uncommitted). This is where the caucus system may work for us - a candidate can win them with less money as long as his/her supporters show up. If we only had a primary Entenza could buy it with a slick advertising campaign.

This is good article I just wish the authoer had mentioned that one reason the DFL keeps losing is that the governor's race has been a three way contest. Ventura only got about 35% of the vote and the most Pawlenty got was 45% - the majority of Minnesotans have not been voting for who winds up in the governor's office.