| The DFL candidates for governor are doing outstandingly well! Here is what I saw at the latest debates:
Margaret Anderson-Kelliher showed physical poise and elegance even when the focus is not on her. This was especially obvious at the Netroots debate. Her answers are good in performance and in content. She does not seem as comfortable on stage as Tom Rukavina, but then no one else does either.
Mark Dayton was the first person to walk away from the podium and own the stage at Hopkins. His answers had a balance between passion and issue wonkiness, delivered to great effect. The shortened format does not do well for Mark Dayton, who always seems like he has much more to say.
Matt Entenza dominates a small room easily with his height, so he has developed a gentler style. In a giant auditorium, everyone is small, so we could have seen a more dynamic version. Matt Entenza always stands out for having a actual plan on how we rebuild the economy and fix the budget. That plan is to build a clean energy economy, using energy technology developed and built here not in China.
R.T. Rybak was really showcasing his strength of having balanced and managed Minneapolis government and economy thorough the worst of the Republican mismanagement, making a good case that he can also do that for the state. While he speaks extraordinarily well, I would like him to slow down his fast paced delivery style to add pauses to absorb the important points.
Paul Thissen speaks well with great content. I have no doubt of his compassion, nor his hardworking ethic. Of all of the candidates, he has most embraced the newest web marketing techniques. Of all candidates, he seems to suffer most in name recognition.
John Marty has added the theme of courage, to his already well articulated theme of healthcare for everyone not just 94%. It was such a dramatic change in style that many people were remarking on the change. John Marty has always been good at content, and is now better at speaking. I think most people will now look at his last quarter fundraising report to see if he can fundraise effectively as well.
Tom Rukavina was the shortest candidate with biggest personality. Everyone remembers his jokes and his remarks. He chided the audience for wanting to export both the pollution and jobs from mining the minerals that everyone wants to use. Minnesota has those minerals and could use those mining jobs. And we all thought - good point.
Steve Kelley's performance was rock solid although it was the same performance as always even down to the same jokes. That is how I could tell there many new people in this audience because many people laughed at what are very good jokes.
Tom Bakk theme was fixing the economy to fix the budget deficit with "jobs, jobs, jobs" by working WITH business. No details on how that all works.
Susan Gaertner had some of the best new lines with a general theme of I am more suburban and different than the rest of these candidates.
Ole Savior is planning to win with the Vikings stadium vote! |
