Capitol View: February 3, 2010 Archive

Rybak's pitch to DFL activists

Posted at 12:55 AM on February 3, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

MPR's Tim Pugmire (who had the difficult task of tracking the DFL candidates for governor tonight) recorded Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak's speech to delegates.

Here it is: Listen

Side note: It's extremely difficult for two reporters to track the nearly two dozen candidates in the race. It was even more difficult tonight when the candidates are spread out across the metro area and the entire state.

MNGOP declares Seifert the winner of party straw poll

Posted at 1:02 AM on February 3, 2010 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Even though five percent of the vote has still not reported, MNGOP Chair Tony Sutton declared that state Rep. Marty Seifert of Marshall won the GOP gubernatorial straw poll of nearly 20 thousand activists. It appears that Seifert received support from roughly half of those who voted. State Rep. Tom Emmer of Delano finished second with about forty percent of the vote. State Sen. David Hann of Eden Prairie was a distant third.

Seifert told reporters earlier tonight that he was cautiously optimistic and said his campaign would start focusing on organizing for district conventions.

"The next thing is to find out who the delegates that were elected and get on the phone with them and start organizing county by county," Seifert said.

Meanwhile, Emmer said he didn't think he'd win last night's straw poll. He says, however, that his campaign has the momentum.

"We don't want to peak on February 2nd," Emmer said. "We want to have our support continue to grow. We want to be peaking on May 1st."

Here's the release from the MNGOP:

Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Tony Sutton tonight announced that Rep. Marty Seifert was the winner of the 2010 gubernatorial straw poll at the Republican Party of Minnesota precinct caucuses which drew nearly 20,000 Minnesotans.

"Congratulations to Marty Seifert on his victory. I want to thank all of our great grassroots activists for making their voices heard at their neighborhood precinct caucuses. Tonight is the just beginning of what promises to be a great year for Minnesota Republicans who have had enough of the big spending, big taxes, and big deficits offered by Democrats," said Republican Party chairman Tony Sutton.

"Our Party is stronger at the grassroots because of our hard working and dedicated activists. Tonight's excitement shows that Minnesota Republicans are energized for a historic year," Republican Party of Minnesota Deputy Chairman Michael Brodkorb said.

You can get the latest GOP straw poll results here.

You can get the DFL straw poll results here.

Comment on this post

Still no guv endorsement from Education Minnesota

Posted at 10:59 AM on February 3, 2010 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

MPR's Tom Weber sends this along:

The president of Education Minnesota said Wednesday morning that the state's teachers union has no timeline for endorsing a candidate in the 2010 governor's race. Tom Dooher also refused to say whether that endorsement would likely be given to either R.T. Rybak or Margaret Anderson-Kelliher, the two top finishers in Tuesday's caucuses.

"The caucuses are just one piece of the information we filter through," Dooher said at a press conference. "I think what's important is we want to make sure who we endorse is going to become the next governor and is going to understand the priorities of education and working families."

Dooher said the schedule for endorsing changes with every election, noting there have been years when Education Minnesota had not endorsed any candidate going into the state endorsing conventions. Typically, though, Dooher estimates about 200 union members end up as delegates at the convention.

In lieu of an endorsement, Dooher says the union armed its members with a caucus guide. The union has already screened the gubernatorial candidates; the earliest it could make an endorsement is Monday, when the union's PAC board next meets.

Comment on this post

Seifert talks straw poll win

Posted at 11:37 AM on February 3, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Republican state Rep. Marty Seifert held a news conference this morning to discuss his straw poll win and the future of his campaign. He also discussed possible running mates and whether other candidates may drop out.

Emmer says he'll shine in next phase of GOP campaign

Posted at 1:53 PM on February 3, 2010 by Tim Pugmire (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

State Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, says he feels good about his second place finish last night in the Republican Party straw poll for governor.

Emmer came in behind state Rep. Marty Seifert, R-Marshall. But Emmer claims momentum is on his side. He stopped by the MPR News Capitol Bureau this morning to share his thoughts on the GOP race. Listen

Comment on this post

Minnesota's ponzi scheme?

Posted at 2:14 PM on February 3, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor, Tim Pawlenty

Governor Pawlenty has been criticizing the federal government for increased government spending. He said the situation is unsustainable and called it the "Ponzi scheme of the Potomac."

Today, Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher used Pawlenty's signature line against him -- suggesting his plan to delay payments to schools is just as bad. Here's Kelliher during a legislative hearing: Listen

Kelliher, a Democrat, is running for governor. For his part, Pawlenty says the school funds will be paid back before July first.

Note: That was DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller gaveling Kelliher out of order.