Rammer Rumors

Posted at 5:33 PM on October 10, 2007 by Tim Pugmire

The campaign web site for Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) was still showing the veteran congressman headed toward retirement. But the the blogosphere was suggesting the decision might not hold.

Eric Black started off the day with a report that Ramstad may be re-thinking his retirement.

Ramstad's office wasn't returning phone calls.

Ken Spain, press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), acknowledged an effort to get Ramstad back in the race, but he denied any official committee involvement.

"If grassroots Republicans in Minnesota support the idea of Congressman Ramstad running for re-election, then the NRCC Chairman Tom Cole seconds that sentiment," Spain said. "However, the NRCC trusts local Republicans to decide who they believe will make the best candidate for congress, not the other way around."

The Republican Party of Minnesota doesn't appear to be in on any grassroots effort in the 3rd Congressional District. State GOP Spokesman Mark Drake said all he knows is what he read in the blogs.

At least one 3rd District Republican doesn't believe there's any chance of Ramstad changing his mind. Sen. Geoff Michel (R-Edina), who briefly considered running for Ramstad's seat, thinks the retirement will stand.

"My sense from Jim's public comments over the last couple of weeks is this is a man who's very comfortable with his decision and frankly quite liberated by it," Michel said. "I don't think he came to it without a lot of thought and discussion. (It's) pretty hard to reverse course on that kind of decision."

If you'd like to refresh your memory, you can replay Ramstad's retirement speech here.

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