The 5th heats up

Posted at 7:26 PM on October 5, 2006 by Tom Scheck (6 Comments)

Republican Alan Fine is sending out a mailer criticizing DFLer Keith Ellison for taking money from a group that some believe has ties to terrorist organizations. The mailing also has quotes from two prominent Democrats, Chuck Schumer from New York and Dick Durbin from Illinois, saying the Council for American Islamic Relations has ties to terrorism. The accusation isn't new but the mailing is (I can't upload the mailing at this time but if you're really interested you can see it on MDE's site here). Fine's campaign says the direct mail piece has been sent to 100,000 5th Congressional District voters. Ellison's campaign manager says Fine's campaign doesn't want to talk about the issues so they'll talk about Ellison's past. They say President Bush has appeared with CAIR's executive director at some events.

Meanwhile...

Independence Party member Tammy Lee is out with a new ad which you can watch here. The ad showcases several Democrats and Republicans who are backing Lee. Two of them (former Minneapolis City Council member Lisa McDonald and Republican George Soule) are married. I wonder if that's a two for the price of one deal?

Lee also issued a news release saying the campaign manager for Ember Reichgott Junge (who lost the DFL Primary to Ellison) is backing Lee. Here's a part of a fundraising letter Lori Jacobwith sent to Lee's supporters:

Many of Ember’s supporters have called to ask me who to support now that the primary is over. I believe that Tammy Lee is the right candidate for the Fifth District.

Like Ember, Tammy believes in affordable, accessible healthcare. As the mother of a three-year-old daughter, she personally understands and is committed to the needs our children. Tammy wants to spend tax dollars responsibly by ending the war in Iraq, strengthening our public schools, returning to rational foreign policies, and investing in clean and renewable energy sources.

Reichgott Junge said on primary night that she would back all DFL candidates. Finally, check out the picture on the front of Lee's homepage. It's DFL Congressman Martin Sabo who has not publicly backed his fellow DFLer Keith Ellison. I called Sabo's office to see if he's backing Lee or if he minds that Lee is using Sabo's image on her website. Sabo's spokeswoman said no to both questions.

Comments (6)

The fifth is not heating up. It's cryogenically frozen -- Ellison will get at least 75%...

Posted by Bill | October 5, 2006 8:06 PM

Nice to see career politician Marty Sabo sit on his hands after sucking off the DFL teat for 28 years (and that's just in Congress--how many in the legislature?) I hope Democrats return the favor to ol' Marty next time he comes knocking. But I'm sure he'll need nothing from the DFL anymore now that he's living large with his fat DFL-provided Congressional pension.

Posted by Karl | October 6, 2006 7:02 AM

I'd like to believe that Sabo intends to endorse Ellison. With the Tammy Lee thing in the mix, it actually becomes news if he does do it, say in the last week of the election or something. Karl should stick to beating Michele Bachmann.

Posted by dginminneapolis | October 6, 2006 5:19 PM

Someone should ask Fine when he stopped beating his wife. Oh, wait...

Posted by David W. | October 7, 2006 12:14 PM

I would like to think that the voters in the 5th will open up to someone like Tammy Lee.

I think that her progressive views match the district a little better than State Rep Ellison who is more radical.

Many prominent members of DFL are lining up behind Tammy Lee.

Besides if she wins a more moderate and vetted endorsed candidate should emerge from the DFL.

Posted by BJ | October 9, 2006 11:04 AM

I'm an Ellison supporter all the way but whenever someone predicts a victory I want to kick them under the table. You never say never in the Fifth District. Tammy Lee can't be taken for granted, you can't give her a pass. Skip Humphrey and Norm Coleman gave Jesse Ventura a pass and look what happened.

Posted by Suze | October 27, 2006 1:59 PM

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