The litmus test?

Posted at 11:07 AM on July 2, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Charlie Weaver, with the Minnesota Business Partnership (and former Chief of Staff to Gov. Pawlenty and former GOP State Rep. from Anoka), told me something in 2004 that I think is a great barometer when thinking about middle of the road, swing voters. It's not the issues or the fundraising or the number of campaign appearances that a candidate makes that makes the difference. It's style...

At the time, I was working on a piece that examined a precinct in Coon Rapids (Ward 2 Precinct 1) where just 14 votes separated George W. Bush from Al Gore in the 2000 election.

Democrat John Kerry was about to campaign in Anoka County so I talked to Weaver and other voters about the issues that were important to them. Here's what Weaver said about those Anoka County swing voters:

"If the test is ... who do you want to have a beer with? That's a good test in Anoka County for anybody. George Bush wins that test."

Weaver was right (Bush lost Minnesota but won the election and the Coon Rapids precinct). Voters there also reelected Gov. Pawlenty (a Republican) and sent Amy Klobuchar (a DFLer) to the Senate in 2006.

If that's the case, Weaver and other Republicans may be worried about these poll results.

So here are the questions: Which presidential candidate would you rather have a beer (or BBQ) with and why?

Comments (1)

It all depends on which McCain shows up; the wiley senator from AZ or the oldest presidential candidate ever. There was a time when McCain's humor was good for a chuckle or two. I don't understand why that has been thrown in the bag during this campaign. Not that it would really matter, I would choose to share my backyard BBQ pit - or the kitchenette in my apartment - with Obama because there's always some athletic jousting going on at the Barbeques I go to. I haven't seen McCain's J, but I just don't think he's got the fuel left in the tank. Not to mention the fact that Obama looks like a young Manu Ginobli on the court.

Plus, who wants the geezer looking over the cooks shoulder all afternoon: "No, no, no! You've got to flip that burger sooner! Those coals aren't hot enough!"

Posted by Tyler Suter | July 2, 2008 12:01 PM

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