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Tim Pawlenty running for President. Who will the GOP run for governor?

by: Populista

Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 13:45:43 PM CDT

Tim Pawlenty just announced he will ~~be running for president~~ not be running for re-election in 2010 as was wildly expected. This clears the way for him to begin building a national profile for a run for President in 2012 as I have long predicted. We have a very large field in the DFL side. What does this mean for the Republicans?

A very large field on the Republican side. So far I've heard the following names mentioned.

Current or former federal officials:
US Rep. Michelle Bachmann
Former Senator Norm Coleman
Former Senator Rod Grahms
Former US Rep Jim Ramstad
Former Us Rep Mark Kennedy

Misc:
RNC Member and 2002 candidate Brian Sullivan
Former TPaw CoS Charlie Weaver
Former auditor Pat Anderson

State Senators:
Minority Leader Dave Senjem
David Hann
Geoff Michel

State Reps:
Paul Kohls
Laura Brod
Former speaker Steve Sviggum
Minority leader Marty Seifert

But who will actually run?

Populista :: Tim Pawlenty running for President. Who will the GOP run for governor?

I don't think any of the current or former federal officials are going to do it. Norm has been getting lots of attention as has Ramstad but I doubt either of them would run for different reasons. Dave Senjem is 66 and probably not eager to run for statewide office. That knocks the list down to nine.

I think Brian Sullivan has to be considered the front runner. He's ran already and so has a established base of support and also have the conservative credentials and money needed to win a Republican endorsement and primary. Marty Seifert is also well positioned and Pat Anderson will have a certain element of the Republican Party ready to give her enthusiastic backing.

The others I'm not so sure about. Charlie Weaver and Steve Sviggum both have influential friends but I'm not sure they would be compelling statewide candidates. And while the other legislators no doubt hold statewide ambitions I'm not sure how they'd compete against people like Sullivan, Seifert and Anderson. Brod is more likely to run for SoS. We'll likely see at least one of them run for it (my guess is Geoff Michel) but I doubt the field will remain this big for long.

In any case I'd say Democrats have a much better chance against any of these people compared to Pawlenty. All of them share the same polices or are to his right but have less name recognition and campaign skills. My prediction is a Sullivan/Brod ticket that goes down in defeat. But it will be interesting to see this play out, cross your fingers for a bloody primary!

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Tim Pawlenty running for President. Who will the GOP run for governor? | 9 comments

It'll be a crowded field (0.00 / 0)

It seems like elected positions that open late bring in big fields. Just my guess, everyone who is thinking of running figures now or never, whereas a long campaign gives candidates time to consider if they really want to do this, and some decide against. I know it's June 2009, but election cycles have gotten so long that this is actually late in the governor race.

The odds of a DFL governor did indeed just go up. I also have to agree that Pawlenty is one of the smarter Republicans and more effective politicians. The same policies mouthed by a less effective candidate will help the DFL. Now if we can just convince the IP not to split the sane vote.

by: ericf @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 19:03:30 PM UTC

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That's not what we hope for (0.00 / 0)

Oh no! Lets hope the Independence Party can capture ALL of the common sense sane vote and win the governorship! I just wish we'd start seeing some declared IP candidates for governor.

The Original Gordon

by: Gordon @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 19:54:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

IP (0.00 / 0)

Its not the sane vote, its the none of the above vote. There is nothing sane about voting for a clown like Barkley or a corrupt hack like Peter Hutchinson. The DFL just has to avoid a nominee (i.e. Matt Entenza) who doesn't send people running for none of the above.

by: Dan @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 20:42:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Laura Brod (0.00 / 0)

I think LB would be the best Republican candidate, though smart people tell me she's gunning for SoS. She's probably not enough to save the GOP in 2010, assuming the DFL doesn't shoot itself in the foot, but she could be pretty tough.....

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by: Chris @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 20:22:38 PM UTC

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a couple of others (0.00 / 0)

I agree with Chris about LB, I'd also like to point out that Phil Krinkie is a strong possibility.
Bachmann isn't running for Gov. But Kiffmeyer might or at least Lt. Gov.
The IP will field a candidate. That candidate will get about $500,000 in State funds to run. That could make him/her viable.

by: taxpayingliberal @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 21:18:10 PM UTC

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1) Michele 2) Sullivan 3) Anderson (0.00 / 0)

Michele's handlers may be making negative speeches, however I have faith Michele desire for center stage and greatness.

Sullivan because he is not in the current legislature.

Anderson because she is also not in the current legislature.

by: Grace Kelly @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 22:42:14 PM UTC

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Thoughts.... (0.00 / 0)

Do we hope for a bloody Republican primary, when we just saw a bloody one last year harden our own president into a razor sharp general candidate?

How insane is it that a founder of a white supremacist group, the Minnesota Majority, is so freaking mainstream she is mentioned as possible governor. What are we, David Duke's Louisiana? Mary Kiffmeyer is a disgrace.

by: Alec @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 00:12:39 AM UTC

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Alec (0.00 / 0)

Alec, I didn't say I liked these guys. Krinke has the fever, He got beat by Bachmann in the congressional and I hear he is itching to play again. He's head of the tax payers league and that a powerful branch of the GOP insiders. If he wants to run he has an inside track and he won't be stained by the accomplishments or lack thereof of the past two sessions.

Kiffmeyer is my representative. She is far worse than you think but she has won state wide and is an incredibility savvy politician. The religious right love her (the bank she is part owner of actually had over 77 "healings" in it).

I was just throwing out a couple of names. But these guys are ambitious, savvy insiders who can raise the doe and run campaigns.

by: taxpayingliberal @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 01:26:06 AM UTC

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Pawlenty is awful. (0.00 / 0)

I think Pawlenty knows that he has devastated MN. The people here know that they've seen mostly negative changes in their state. John Marty is the candidate that offers a fresh, bold progressive vision that MN needs. Health care for EVERYONE, sustainable jobs, no more cuts to education. He knows what it takes to get MN back on the right track to being the great state it once was. I strongly support him for Governor 2010! Adios to the power hungry republican party, you have not served MN well.

by: MNforMarty @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 15:58:52 PM UTC

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Tim Pawlenty running for President. Who will the GOP run for governor? | 9 comments