Walz won't run for Governor in 2010

Looks like the field (0.00 / 0)

Is coming into shape more. Walz is out, with Coleman running for re-election I doubt he tries to run for governor and Rybak supposedly will decide in the next two weeks.

With the huge budget deficit I don't think Clark or MAK will jump in. I think Paul Thissen and Tom Bakk will be all the legislators we will get. Former Rep Doug Peterson might get in though.

So it might be ending up looking more like this

Rybak
Dayton
Entenza
Bakk
Thissen
Gaertner
Peterson

Which would be a very crowded field of very impressive candidates. Of them Thissen is probably the weakest and a Harvard grad who was editor of the U of Chicago Law Review and a talented legislator is hardly a weak candidate.  

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by: Populista @ Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 17:58:25 PM CST

I kinda figured... (0.00 / 0)

I never really thought Walz would run for governor based on his political career path, which started with federal office, and his interest in veterans issues. I think Washington is the right place for him.

Interesting thoughts on Clark and MAK -- that the budget disaster could keep them tied down. You might be right. Of course, they've been making the rounds of DFL events, so they could make some noise and build strong campaigns as late entries.

Re-election probably means Rybak and C. Coleman are both out (a theory I've read elsewhere), but both are well known and could rally late -- especially Rybak.

Dayton and Gaertner strike me as especially weak candidates and Entenza might win the DFL nod, but he comes with a ton of baggage.

It'll be fun to watch this play out. For my part, I'm nominating Joe Bodell.

Another question: Does T-Paw seek a third term? I think he will, but the better strategy would be to step aside and head to Iowa in January 2011. Who would've thought? I'm a Pawlenty adviser now.

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by: Chris @ Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 22:18:28 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I agree. (0.00 / 0)

If Pawlenty has National ambitions, and all indications are that he does, than it's a big risk to run for Gov again. He has everything to lose and nothing to gain.

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by: TonyAngelo @ Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 23:04:59 PM CST

[ Parent ]

You're right, TonyAngelo (0.00 / 0)

He's won two terms. Can't do much better than that. I think most people beyond Minnesota (and even in Minnesota) assume that's the max.

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by: Chris @ Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 00:07:08 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Clark and MAK (0.00 / 0)

Have very bright futures and are fantastic people. But the 2010 session is going to have to wrangle with a lot of tough issues and is going to require a lot of hard work from our leaders. If either of them wants to be governor they should step down from their leadership posts first in my opinion. I think the state would be better served with them continuing to do outstanding work in their current positions.

Agreed on Dayton and Gaertner. And Entenza has plenty of money and connections but his baggage makes him a terrible candidate at this point, I can't imagine him becoming governor and I hope he continues to build MN 2020.

Coleman is still in his first term and has said he is running for re-election. He'd have to start campaigning for a new job right after getting back his current one and IMO that would backfire. Rybak on the other hand is in his second term, he's said he will run for one but not both and I think he's going to go for governor.

I could be totally wrong though. We'll see what Rybak, Dayton and Entenza do in the next month or two and if MAK or Clark come out looking good and people are not happy with the field they could well come in after the session and win it.

As for T-Paw I'd say a maybe ten percent chance he runs for re-election. The man wants to be president and I don't see any way that running for governor again helps that. He would have at least a 50 percent chance of losing and at best he's stuck as governor which would hurt his campaigning hugely.  

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by: Populista @ Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 01:02:55 AM CST

[ Parent ]

You and me (0.00 / 0)

and the Devil makes three, Chris. I humbly accept your endorsement.

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by: Joe Bodell @ Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 06:12:30 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I like Walz where he is... (0.00 / 0)

Looks like a great list of candidates, though.  

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by: Holly Cairns @ Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 20:50:57 PM CST

DAMN!!! (0.00 / 0)

He was by far my #1 choice. I thought he would have been the BEST candidate to be the first DFL Governor elected in an entire generation.

Oh well, I'll be looking for a candidate (and accepting suggestions) that is (1) solidly progressive, (2) someone OUTSIDE of the DFL inner circle that graced us with such great candidates as Mike Hatch, Roger Moe, and Skip Humphrey, (3) someone who did NOT take part in the suppression of dissent during the Republican National Convention (that's aimed at YOU Susan Gaertner & Chris Coleman) and although this is NOT A DEALBREAKER, I would prefer someone who (4) supported Barack Obama for president over Hillary Clinton. I think who one supported for president speaks to someone's vision and judgement, especially when in the painful latter stages of the primary season and the Clinton camp was throwing the "kitchen sink" at Obama.

I look forward to hearing suggestions.

"...if my thought-dreams could be seen, they'd probably put my head in a guillotine..."----Bob Dylan, 1965.

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by: lams712 @ Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 13:05:24 PM CST

Sounds like Rybak (0.00 / 0)

Or maybe Thissen although I think he was for Clinton.

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by: Populista @ Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 14:03:39 PM CST

[ Parent ]

rybak 4 u? (0.00 / 0)

Sounds like you might want to back Rybak, Iams712

He's DFL, though.  Which I think is great... lately, the DFL has had many great chances to tell what they really want to do...

Number one might be to vote for regulation which protects the middle class (ie protects Minnesota's hardworking families.)  

Something I've been thinking:  Wellstone used to talk about helping the "little guy" ("Like me", he'd say), and now it might be "protectng the middle class' opportunity to prosper".  But that Democratic vision is really the same, and will be worked for in the same way.

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by: Holly Cairns @ Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 13:45:31 PM CST

I'll vote for anyone (0.00 / 0)

who is honest and admits it's time to invest in MN again.

espeically with a 5.2 billion budget short fall and all thats going on nationally, if we ever had to make hard choices now is the time. Not lets wait till get Minnesotans get out of the hole and then expect them to wanna come back and make hard choices on a state level, after the crisis on a national level is over.

it will be hard but there is no better time then right now to make needed changes. 2010 we hopefully will get a governor who is ready to roll up his or her sleeves and get to work.

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by: TCDem @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 09:47:57 AM CST