Dayton says AFL-CIO process unfair

Posted at 2:48 PM on June 16, 2010 by Tim Pugmire (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton cried foul today when the Minnesota AFL-CIO sent out a news release announcing its endorsement of Margaret Anderson Kelliher for governor.

The AFL-CIO says the release was a test sent out by mistake a few hours before the endorsement screening interviews were scheduled. During a speech to the Minnesota Pipe Trades Association before heading to his screening, Dayton said he had expected the process would be fair and open.

"It's disappointing to me not to be given a fair screening and a fair opportunity," Dayton said. "I've always been a strong friend and supporter of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, of the pipe fitters, and all of your members and the causes of the working men and women across this state throughout my career."

Here's the audio of the speech: Listen

Afterwards, Dayton said he was still going to his scheduled interview, and he dismissed the explanation that the news release was a mistake. He pointed out that Kelliher was quoted in the release, but no one had contacted him for a similar quote.

"I think it's very unfair," he said.

Kelliher addressed the Pipe Trades event a short time after Dayton. Following her speech, Kelliher told reporters she had not already been told of an AFL-CIO endorsement.

"I'm going to go earn the endorsement," Kelliher said.

Comments (1)

Let's see, first Michele Bachmann's campaign says an email response from "Bachmann for Senate" was a typo (from "House" to "Senate" is some typo). Now, the AFL-CIO claims a press release quoting MAK in an endorsement of her was just a "test" (how do you get a candidate's quote in a "test"?). What kind of rubes do these political operatives think we are out here that we'll believe that BS? Or are campaign workers just that inept and sloppy these days.

Posted by Karl | June 17, 2010 7:01 AM

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