Who has the best shot at WINNING the election for Governor?

[Bosso 63]

I'm a yellow dog democrat who would love to support a progressive candidate, but after 8 years of tiny Tim's smirk, I just want to see anyone from the DFL as the next Governor.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. You know, there's way too much of this "I like X but he can't win" nonsense

going around.

The DFL (like the national party) has had such great luck lately with those candidates who "can win" lately, hasn't it?

People should vote for the person they really want.

If everyone did that--voted for the person they really, really wanted--they might be surprised to find out that it's the person everyone else wanted, too.

I saw that in Oregon, too. The Dems nominated Ted Kulongoski in 2002 because "he could win." He didn't have a lot going for him otherwise, but he was a "regular guy" type. Well, he barely scraped by. (I was at the Dem's election night party watching the returns, and the governor's race was a real cliffhanger, with the lead moving back and forth by the minute.)

[dflprincess]

2. I heard a lot of "I like Wellstone but he can't win" the first time he ran for the Senate

before the endorsement. Some of the people who told me I was nuts to support him talk now like it was practically their idea that he run.

[Bosso 63]

4. Well thats great.

How long has it been since we had a Democrat as Governor in Minnesota?? How much longer do you want to wait?

As to Wellstone, he had personality and knew how to make a goddamn point when he talked,
which made him electable.

The DFL has a bad tendency of nominating people because "it's their turn".
Well I'm sorry, I lack both the time or the patience to back someone just because it's "their damn turn". I have a child with autism, and I don't want another 8 years of someone like Pawlenty ripping apart the social fabric of Minnesota. I want someone who is willing to kick ass and take names. \

So, my question still stands;

Who can win?

[CatholicEdHead]

3. I would say either Rybek or Kelliher

Both because they have name recognition across the state. Kelliher also has rural roots and can speak to outstate. Rybek has his big city mayor experience which translates well into running the state. The rest of the DFL Caucus canditaes who are still around are mostly hit by poor name recognition. Kelliher will be hurt by her time as Speaker of the House as you can find more attack points just by going about the business of the legislature. Rybek does not have that many as he has not been very controversial as mayor of Minneapolis.

They will probably be going against Marty Seifert of Marshall. Even though the party faithful love him, he is playing to the wingunt Teabagger wing of the party which turns off a lot of moderates and hurts himself as he tries to emulate Pawlenty. His bashing of unions (epically Education Minnesota) is turning many people off.

I would say Rybek could beat Siefert easily if he runs a good campaign, so could Kelliher but it would be a closer race.

[Bosso 63]

5. Thank you!

I'm leaning towards Rybek, but concerned about how he will do outstate. I like Kelliher, but she doesn't' seem to have as much "charisma", at least to me.

[DFLforever]

6. RT Rybak

He has the energy, 'charisma', and probably the organization to win. He's a good progressive. Not a party hack. The party hacks run against him. RT's steered an independent good-government course in Minneapolis.

I very much like Theissen. I think he's a very knowledgeable and impressive guy. Of all the candidates, he would probably make the best governor. I hope he will be MN's governor one day but I don't believe he can make it in 2010.

I'm neutral on the others except Marty. I wish he'd pull out. I doubt he would do as well this year as he did 20 yrs ago when he was overwhelmingly defeated.

I agree with you. There's no reason a GOPer like Seifert can't be beaten. So let's choose someone who will do it.

[glinda]

8. R.T. That is why the Repubs are attacking him soooo hard right now.

[becxx]

7. Thissen can and should win

I think of all of the candidates Thissen is my guy. He seems to take good positions on issues and has not sold out to the rich and powerful. I think he could unite the party and get lots of votes in both the metro area and in Greater Minnesota.

Here's my take on some of the other candidates:

Kelleher - I really do not want her to be Governor. I think she is a first class phony. A real fake. I would not trust her to do a good job at anything other than preserving the status quo. She is a lousy role model too. If she gets the DFL endorsement, I probably will stop going to precinct caucuses except when national positions are at stake. Politicians like her make me wish that there were a viable third party.

Rybak - The tree has to be judged by the fruit that falls from it. So how about a mayor who wants to spend a fortune on water fountains costing $50,000 each while the city suffers through a devastating recession.

Dayton - Would probably be okay but I'm not excited about him.

Marty - I like him but I don't think he can win. He just is not warm on the campaign trail and does not seem able to put together great campaigns. He often seems to look down on others and that simply does not work. He could at least feign listening to others.

[Bosso 63]

9. I have not heard much about Thissen, but I will take a closer look.

Thanks!

[dflprincess]

10. I've heard good things about Thissen from people who live in his district

and, not only are his positions good, he's reputed to be awfully smart as well.

[wellstone dem]

11. Rybek is working hard to win this.

I got elected delegate to the state convention, in a "Tarryl Clark 6th District/Uncommitted Governor" subcaucus last Saturday. I got a phone call from him on Sunday congratulating me on my election and asking for my support. I haven't heard from anyone else.

We had a really nice conversation.

Working hard is part of winning the election.

[becxx]

12. Rybak could charm the tail off a cat

LOL, that Rybak is an all time charmer. He's even more charming in person because he's very cute too. LOL

The problem is that one needs to look at what he does. I certainly did not like the way he handled the latest round of budget cuts in Minneapolis -- he slashed police while seeming to protect his cronies. Pawlenty can be very charming too. And the voters were taken in by him.

I think I like Thissen better. But I continue to be anxious to hear all of the facts that everyone can provide.

[wellstone dem]

16. Oh, I knew what he was doing

but not being from Minneapolis, I hadn't seen it before. Winning the election is the top factor for me, so I'm looking at how this would play outstate. I don't think we've had a charming candidate for this office in a long time. It is one factor in electability. I've heard some negative things from friends in MPLS, and I was hoping we'd have an out-state candidate that would play in the Twin Cities, but I'm not sure we have an electable candidate who is not from MPLS. And of the MPLS candidates I'm beginning to think he is the most electable.

[dflprincess]

13. Oh you'll hear from them all

and probably several times between now and the state convention. So many times you'll start to hesitate before you answer your phone.

Right now they're probably concentrating on any remaining SD or county unit conventions.

[DFLforever]

14. Not only will he ask you for your vote.

he'll probably come over and thank you for it after it's cast!


At least that's what he did at SD 64's convention last Sat.

There's no doubt he's the most energetic campaigner in the race.

[wellstone dem]

15. I guess I better clean my house

if he's coming over.

[dflprincess]

17. Oh, he'll be so anxious for your vote - ask him to do it!

In fact, ask them all to do it. Visualize all the candidates for governor showing up some Saturday and cleaning for you... Makes me wish I were a delegate to the state convention :evilgrin:

[wellstone dem]

19. Excellent plan!

I knew this delegate gig would pay off.

[DFLforever]

18. No politician is worth that much effort

At least on my part!

[Morning Dew]

20. So far, I'm for Mark Dayton. n/m