The GOP must really think DFL Sen. Mark Dayton is vulnerable. Dayton is up for re-election next year. Up until now 6th District Rep. Mark Kennedy was widely thought to be interested in running for Senate. Now 1st District Rep. Gil Gutknecht says he's interested too. The AP's Frederic J. Frommer had the story from Washington:

Gutknecht, a 10-year House veteran, has staked out an independent position on some issues, particularly on allowing Americans to import drugs from Canada.

"I recognize I have to make a decision, for sure one way or
another, fairly soon," Gutknecht said in an interview at an
inaugural reception sponsored by the Minnesota State Society.

"The problem is you're going to have to raise a mountain of
money. You've got to get started fairly early." Gutknecht said he
hopes to make a decision in the next couple of months.

Gutknecht, who represents Rochester, said he didn't envision a
primary battle with Kennedy. Instead, switching on a "Godfather"
voice, Gutknecht said he hoped it would be settled "by a meeting
of all the families" - state party leaders and Minnesota
Republicans in Congress.

"If you're going to beat an incumbent, I don't think you can
afford the luxury of a split party," Gutknecht said, shifting back
to his normal voice. "There's something to be said for having a
consensus candidate. I'm a believer that as soon as we can, we
should coalesce around one candidate."

Frommer notes that Dayton spent $12 million of his own money in the 2000 election, but has said he can't afford to finance his own campaign this year. And yet Dayton finished 2004 with just $177,000 in the bank, more in the molehill than mountain category of campaign fundraising. And of course, If either Gutknecht or Kennedy runs against Dayton it will open a race for the seats in their districts. This is going to be interesting.

At the Capitol, Gov. Tim Pawlenty is scheduled to release his budget plan on Tuesday. The Legislature is in a bit of a holding pattern until then, but things are definitely moving. The Senate could vote on its version of a bonding bill as early as next week.

Supporters of a bill to crack down on people who ride all terrain vehicles where they don't belong announced their plan Thursday. MPR's Lorna Benson did a story on this a couple weeks ago.

AARP Minnesota did a poll and found overwhelming support for a $1 per pack cigarette tax increase. The group's president is former state Attorney general Skip Humphrey, who successfully led the effort to sue tobacco companies a few years back. The poll had some other interesting findings. Scott Wente had this story in the Fargo Forum:

- 85 percent oppose cuts to health care programs for the elderly and disabled as the Legislature looks to erase a $700 million budget deficit.

- 81 percent support increased taxes on beer and wine. Alcohol is currently taxed at 9 percent.

- About 50 percent support an expansion of casino-style gambling as a source of state revenue.

More than 1,000 registered voters took part in the recent phone survey. Roughly 200 said they are AARP members.

The group's leaders said members will advocate hardest for a boosted tobacco tax.

"This is significant support and AARP believes that the Legislature and governor should strongly consider increasing the tax on cigarettes," Humphrey said.

So smoke 'em if you got 'em, I guess.

After making a big deal out of Gov. Pawlenty's interest in a casino at the Mall of America, the Star Tribune shifts attenion to the as yet unbuilt harness racing track approved this week in Anoka County. Darlene Prois and Patricia Lopez had this in the Star Tribune:

House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon, said the track will be well-positioned to add casino-style gambling, becoming a racino.

Canterbury Park in Shakopee has been pushing for years to turn its racetrack and card club into a racino by the highly lucrative addition of slot machines.

Operators have said that could bring the state $100 million upfront and up to $100 million a year.

Sviggum said that if Canterbury gets a racino, Anoka should as well. "I see no reason why that couldn't bring in $200 million to $300 million a year for the state," he said.

He urged the track owners to consider a partnership with the Red Lake, Leech Lake and White Earth Indian bands and said that would be a better option than having the Indians pursue a casino at the Mall of America.

Does that qualify as putting the casino before the cart before the horse?