In our coverage of the 3rd CD so far, we’ve been devoting all our attention to the DFL primary field and ignoring Minnesota’s minority party. Poor Republicans. Well, this injustice is about to end.
Below are our very first 3rd CD candidate rankings of the 2008 cycle. We plan to put these out regularly for both the DFL and the GOP side. We’re starting with the Republicans because we haven’t even done a run down of their side of the aisle yet and its nice to kill two birds with one stone.
We’ve ranked the candidates individually, but also by tier. Its so early in the race that the tier rankings might be more useful and accurate, but lets face it, individual rankings are more fun. Just bear in mind that the difference between candidates within the same tier is, as one Republican told me, “a matter of inches, not miles.”
Tier One: The Frontrunners
1. St. Rep Erik Paulsen - Paulsen is the former Majority Leader in the MN House - he lost a leadership election to Marty Seifert after the GOP lost control in 2006. More reserved and less charismatic that either Seifert or former Speaker Steve Sviggum, Paulsen is a hard worker. In fact, from what we hear, Paulsen is outworking the GOP field right now. Speed kills in primary campaigns, and Paulsen is moving fast.
2. RNC Committeeman Brian Sullivan - He’s got money, party connections, conservative credentials and money. Did I mention that he’s rich? Its pretty easy to see why the man who almost derailed Tim Pawlenty’s political career is an early favorite in this race. His wallet makes Republicans drool. His insane issue positions make DFLers drool. Expect Sullivan to have a corner on the “RHINO-hunters” if he runs.
3. State Senator Geoff Michel - Michel was an early favorite (can I really call him that when the race is less than a week old?), but he’s been outworked by Paulsen and doesn’t have Sullivan’s checkbook. Michel has a moderate image (its mostly an image) and might try to claim the ‘electable’ mantle.
Tier Two: The Wildcards
4. Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek - Stanek would be probably be a top tier candidate if he ran, but most people seem to be pretty skeptical that he’ll actually jump in. He’s got a pretty good job already and who needs that Minneapolis to D.C. commute (do you know the kind of psychos you run into at MSP?). If he gets in, he’ll move up the rankings.
5. St. Rep. Joyce Peppin - She’s a woman and she’s a conservative. That’s got to get her some votes right? Peppin is known around the Capitol for angry rants on the House floor and her obsession with nuclear power. Still, I wouldn’t underestimate the only woman in a multiple candidate race.
Tier Three: The Longshots
6. State Senator David Hann - What’s he got that Michel and/or Paulsen don’t?
7. State Senator Warren Limmer - Ditto, but its worth noting that some Republicans REALLY hate Limmer.
8. State Rep. Kurt Zellers - Ditto, why are you running?
9. Former AG candidate Tom Kelly - This guy was the only statewide candidate to lose in 2002. He would have a much better chance if he were the guy who managed the Twins for a decade, but that’s some other Tom Kelly.
Loading ...
It’s all image for Michel. It’s hard to imagine a person any more skilled at getting away with saying one thing and doing another. This guy does a good job of representing hardcore conservative value. And still, Mary Lahammer and Lori Sturdivant do seem to like covering him. Go figure.
Did Stanek come out, on the race, not his orientation
BREAKING NEWS:
In tonights national news it was reported that the president of Iran wanted to come to America to visit ground zero?
The reaction was basically hate by American’s.
Doesn’t it seem odd that James BROOM Wellstone has stated that he was going over to Iran as a tourist and now the President of Iran is stating that if he cannot visit ground zero diplomatically that he will visit as a tourist???????Iran was NOT responsible for 9/11
Its blatenty obvious to me. BROOM Wellstone has quite a bit of coincidence’s like this in his life.
Dear BROOM Wellstone:
Please forgive these non-Wellstone democrats. They know not what they do!!!!
Isn’t Jeff Johnson in the 3rd? (The AG candidate from the last election) I’ve heard his name come up a few times.
Michel has had problems in his own district over transportation issues, hasn’t he? You’d have to think that would come up.
C’mon, give us some more on the DFL candidates.
MDE is already attacking Hortman on his blog — if what he put up is true, it will be damaging to a possible run by Hortman.
Give us some more info on the DFL race; don’t let MDE outscoop you.
Lordy, don’t make me go over there….
Can some of you go over to MDE’s site (www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com) and refute what Brodkorp is saying about Rep. Hortman?
I can’t believe she’d really leave the DFL but that’s what Brodkorp is claiming on his blog. Also, others are saying that she’s an opportunist, has a bad reputation, etc.
WildBlue states exactly why Michel is the overall frontrunner. It’s a mirage, but he has fostered a moderate image. He’s the most personable candidate on the Republican side. Even though 2006 was a good DFL year, the district still has an oh-so slight lean to the right. Klobuchar and Otto were the only two DFLers to carry the district in 2006 (even though Johnson defeated Swanson by about 100 votes). And if you add up all of the votes for state Senate and state House candidates, Republicans outperformed DFLers.
John Berns is a green/moderate freshman GOP member who was endorsed by the Star Tribune and is being courted by the lake area money people as the natural choice to replace Ramstad. They thought he would get a few years experience though. I have heard he will get in if he can get enough cash committed.